LASEMA Seeks Cooperation Among Emergency/Security Agents

MICHAEL AKINOLA

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has reiterated the need for active collaboration, increase in synergy, information sharing as well as regular meetings amongst stakeholders to enhance proper coordination, increase effective emergency response as well as to build resilience of communities during emergency intervention in the State.

P.M.EXPRESS reports as was disclosed by the Public Affairs Unit Officer, Mr. Adebayo Kehinde. He said that the Director General/CEO Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Dr. Olufemi Oke- Osanyintolu, disclosed this during a working visit to the headquarter of the Rapid Response Squad, RRS, of the Lagos State Police Command in Alausa, saying that lack of coordination and cooperation among stakeholders could be a form of hindrance to the success of emergency management and intervention in the State.

According to him, “Effective preparedness requires close coordination among stakeholders, while effective coordination itself implies the understanding of stakeholders regarding each other’s roles before an emergency occurs, elements of command and control, communication, dispatches/deployment and a clear-cut incident command structure. All these give credence to a single-chain of command where roles and responsibilities of stakeholders are clearly defined before during and after emergency/disasters in the State”.
The LASEMA boss explained that the Agency, as the umbrella body to co-ordinate the activities of relevant agencies in prevention and management of disasters in the State, is vested with major role to play in this regard, as such gives credence and the need for this visit to solicit for further support from the security agency such as the RRS of the Lagos State Police Command as emergency and security goes side by side.
While highlighting some of his agenda in line with the vision of His Excellency, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, in the area of adequate safety of lives and properties, Osanyintolu noted that in consonance with the LASEMA Law of Lagos State of 2015 as (Amended) by the Law 2011 for the establishment of Zonal Rescue Coordinating Centre the Agency has established Zonal Rescue Coordinating Centres, located in the three (3) Senatorial Districts of the State; namely, Lagos West, East and Central Senatorial Districts, headed by Senior Officers in the Agency with support from the Cappa Dispatch Centre in Oshodi, Command and Control Centre, Alausa-Ikeja and the Dispatch Centre, Onipanu, on Ikorodu Road for adequate and quick response to any form of emergency/disaster.
The Director General also disclosed plans to revamp its operations on Lagos State waterways to compliment the efforts of the State Waterways Authority (LASWA), the Marine Police and other relevant stakeholders to ensure adequate safety of the commuting populace of Lagos water, with the establishment of Aquatic Response Unit at the Lekki Response Unit by the Lekki/Ikorodu Linked Bridge to further enhance the presence of the agency on the waterways as well as reducing response time to scene of emergencies on water on the Lekki corridor and its environs.
While seeking for the continuous support for adequate protection of all emergency responders from hoodlums who sometime use emergency scene to loot, sometimes attack emergency responders, as well as preventing free access to trained emergency responders from carrying out response and recovery during emergency interventions, he however noted that the Agency will continue to organise forum and platforms for emergency/security operatives to synergies and collaboration before, during and after emergencies such as stakeholders meeting, simulations exercise as well as trainings for effective and disaster management in the State.
In his welcome address, the Commander, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), DCP Olatunji Disu, called on LASEMA to sustain the relationship with other emergency agencies, while assuring their readiness to strengthen the bond and networking to ensure that lives are save.