CHUKS OKOH
The President of Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria (ISPON) Chief Stephen Udeze, has appealed to the Management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) to allow safety professionals in their organisation to register with ISPON in order to guarantee their practice.
Speaking during a courtesy visit to the NPA headquarters in Lagos, Chief Udeze highlighted the ISPON Act of 2014 that allows all safety professionals to be registered with the body before practicing.
According to the ISPON boss, it is illegal to practice without registration adding that compliance must be driven
“For you to be a professional safety in Nigeria, you must be registered with ISPON and your name must be on the membership list”
He assured the NPA Executive Director, marines and operations Engr. Olalekan Abdul-Rahaman Badmus,
who received the ISPON delegation that the professional body was ever ready to train professionals and provide them with qualified personnel where necessary.
Chief Udeze further appealed to the NPA management to assist professionals in the organisation in paying membership due.
He praised the entire system of NPA saying they were working especially the quality of fire department and assured them of ISPON assistance.
“Your system is working as it concerns environment, fire and safety. You are doing very well and there are rooms for improvement”
He stressed on the need for continuous professional development in terms of personnel training, audit and inspection.
Chief Udeze however explained that lack of funds have affected the activities of ISPON in terms of public enlightenment of its programmes and advocacies.
He told the NPA boss that he remained an advocate of catching them young in safety, saying that safety should be taught from the primary to higher institution levels
Responding, Engr. Olalekan Abdul-Rahaman Badmus, Executive Director, Marine and Operations, NPA appreciated the visit to the organisation by ISPON team and noted that there was no way safety will be discussed without professionalism
Engr Badmus said safety remained their culture at NPA on daily basis while a lot of trainings were done as it was continuous
He commended ISPON for their relationship with the National Assembly
Engr Badmus assured them that NPA will ensure that personnel will be sent to ISPON for their various programmes in order to partner with them.
Highlights of the visit was the presentation of recognition awards and decorations of some management staff of NPA
