The President of the Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON), Chief Steven Udezi, has reiterated the need for collaborative efforts to raise and harmonize safety standards across the country.

Speaking at a stakeholders’ engagement meeting hosted by ISPON’s Lagos branch, Chief Udezi urged all safety professionals and organisations to align with the national safety regulatory framework as provided by the ISPON Act of 2014.

While noting that ISPON formally secured its legal mandate through the 2014 Act, Udezi emphasized that the institute has been at the forefront of safety advocacy in Nigeria since its establishment in 1980. He stressed that the Act empowers ISPON as the sole authority to regulate safety practices nationwide, ensuring they are credible, consistent, and internationally competitive.

Addressing the proliferation of independent safety organisations in the country, Udezi clarified that ISPON remains open to collaboration but insisted that all training, certifications, and operational procedures must be subject to ISPON’s scrutiny. He noted that only after rigorous evaluation will certifications—renewable periodically—be issued, ensuring the integrity and competence of safety professionals and institutions.

“The ISPON Act is very clear,” Udezi stated. “Anyone practicing safety professionally in Nigeria must be registered with ISPON. Operating outside this framework is illegal and punishable under the law with heavy fines or imprisonment.”

He also revealed that ISPON has conducted elections to rejuvenate over 14 state branches as part of its ongoing decentralisation and capacity-building efforts. According to him, such engagements provide vital platforms for practitioners to exchange ideas, address challenges, and shape policy directions.

Chief Udezi appealed to media organisations to play a stronger role in amplifying ISPON’s advocacy, especially in light of recurring, preventable accidents nationwide. “In a country where safety lapses frequently make headlines, it is unacceptable for ISPON to be excluded from critical accident investigation processes,” he said.

He highlighted the institute’s diverse membership, which includes doctors, architects, engineers, and military personnel, saying this positions ISPON to offer broad, interdisciplinary solutions to Nigeria’s safety challenges.

Commending the large turnout at the event, Udezi expressed hope for greater participation in future engagements, urging professionals to take advantage of the free knowledge-sharing opportunities presented by such forums.

He reaffirmed ISPON’s commitment to remain the central hub for safety excellence in Nigeria, promising continued collaboration with stakeholders to uphold professional standards and safeguard lives across all sectors.