By Awwal Umar Kontagora The Niger State House of Assembly has called for strict adherence to safety protocols at construction si...
By Awwal Umar Kontagora
The Niger State House of Assembly has called for strict adherence to safety protocols at construction sites, mandating that any contractor found violating safety regulations should face immediate suspension of work.
This resolution followed a motion proposed by Hon. Engr. Mohammed Haruna, member representing Bida II Constituency. The motion underscored the critical importance of workplace safety, particularly traffic control measures, and called for every construction company to establish a dedicated safety department.
The motion, seconded by Hon. Isah Etsugaie of Agaie Constituency, stemmed from deliberations during a meeting between the Assembly’s Standing Committee on Works and Infrastructure, officials of the Niger State Ministry of Works, and contractors handling various construction projects across the state.
Chairman of the committee, Arc. Abubakar Suleiman Gomna, voiced serious concerns over frequent incidents of non-compliance with safety protocols on construction sites. He cited several accidents and near-misses as evidence of poor enforcement.
Gomna questioned the effectiveness of the Ministry in ensuring that safety measures were fully implemented and monitored.
In response, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Qs. Hassan Baba Etsu, assured the committee that the Ministry would rigorously enforce safety regulations. He stressed that no contractor would receive payment without full compliance with established safety standards.
Etsu confirmed that contractors had agreed to adhere to all safety requirements and foster secure working environments on all sites.
The Ministry also pledged to maintain close collaboration with the Assembly committee to uphold best practices in infrastructure development in line with the New Niger Agenda.
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