847 incidents recorded in 1st half of 2022 in Lagos- LASEMA

…. 8,904 incidents in 15 years

Lagos State has recorded 847 incidents in the first half of this year, 2022, according to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).

Also, the agency has recorded 8,904 major and minor incidents in the last 15 years of its existence.

The Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Oluwafemi Damilola Oke-Osanyitolu, stated this on Wednesday at the strategic session on the Lagos State Emergency Policy and Framework held by the Lagos State Disaster Risk Reduction Technical Working Group.

Oke-Osanyitolu maintained that collaborative efforts among first responders is critical to effectively managing disasters.

“I am an apostle of multi-agency collaboration in disaster management and its incident command system which is its key element at the heart of effective communication and a well-structured framework guiding efficient coordination.

“Over the years I’ve identified the effect of collaborative efforts with key stakeholders/Agencies in preparedness and response to managing disasters in the state and the adoption of international best practices in optimising the incident command system and framework, it is with this same mindset that the Lagos State Disaster Risk Reduction Technical Working Group was Inaugurated 13th August 2021.

“Since multi-agency collaboration can occur at every phase of disaster management, LASEMA has continued to adopt the international standard of fostering relationships with its stakeholders both vertically and horizontally. The Agency has continued partnering with its stakeholders and the Technical Working Group which was responsible for the safe birth of the approved LASEMA 5-year Strategic Plan on Emergency Preparedness earlier this year.

“This same continued collaboration has now effectively brought us to this juncture of “Strategic Session On The Lagos State Emergency Policy And Framework” today the 4th of October, 2022, so that stakeholders can jointly prepare, modify and identify with this all-important document to further safeguard Lagos State from all forms of disasters in the near and distant future.”