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Tag: LASEMA

  • LASEMA organises retreat for senior staff

    LASEMA organises retreat for senior staff

    The management of the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA) has organised a retreat for its senior staff in Lagos.

    The programme followed last week’s retreat held for the junior staff of the agency.

    The event which started on Saturday is expected to end today, with a focus on mental wellbeing.

    LASEMA’S Permanent Secretary, Dr. Oke Osanyintolu, explained that the retreat was organised to rekindle, rebrand, refocus, restart, and most importantly to thank the responders.

    Osanyintolu said that the agency had tackled lots of emergencies and disasters, noting that the agency had always been on top on disaster and emergency management.

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    He attributed the success of the agency to the enabling environment provided by the Lagos State governor, Mr. Babjide Sanwo-Olu.

    “With a viable working force, we have a viable emergency responders that are working as a team, to ensure the safety of lives and property. Today we are saying thank you, we are saying we appreciate you.”

    He also noted that the personnel of the agency are not immune to the prevalent mental health challenges in the country, saying that there was the need to tell responders on how they need to reorientate themselves.

    “We have to tell them how to prevent mental challenges. They are highly vulnerable to it because they are emergency responders. We have to tell them how to manage stress; we have to educate them on how to handle mental challenges.”

    Osanyintolu restated the commitment of the state government to protection of lives and property due to his huge investment in high technology equipment, disclosing that more have been purchased and will be inaugurated soon.

    At the event were Chairman House Committee on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Olawale Age-Sulaiman; the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties, Mr. Sesan Ogundeko, and others.

  • We have capacity to confront any form of emergency — LASEMA PS

    We have capacity to confront any form of emergency — LASEMA PS

    The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA)  Dr Oke-Osanyintolu, has assured that the agency has the capacity to confront any form of disaster.

    Speaking during a retreat for first responders in Lagos, the PS, who was full of gratitude to the first responders, disclosed that the retreat was meant to energise them.

    “The objective of the retreat is to thank the responders. Firstly, we realise that when our government came in, we experienced a lot of emergencies; a lot of disasters in Lagos State, but under the watch of the chief incident commander, the governor of Lagos State, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the emergency responders have performed so well.

    We are using this retreat to appreciate our first responders, to say a big thank you to them, to say all they have done in the emergency cycle, and we appreciate them.”

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    “However, while we are saying a big thank you to them, we have to reenergize them; we have to build a capacity that is formidable to take Lagos State to another level.

    With the equipment and infrastructure the governor has provided, he said the agency is well-prepared to manage disasters and emergencies. “When you talk about infrastructure, we have infrastructure. Mr Sanwo- Olu has bought sophisticated equipment for us. Some are on their way, some are in our base.”

    While recognising that the score card of the agency is in the hands of the people, he added that the agency has done a lot of things to ensure the safety of the good people of Lagos State in terms of provision of infrastructure, in terms of building the capacity, in terms of putting a lot of things in.

    He also disclosed that the Lagos State government now has more than 20 fire stations strategically positioned across the state.

    “Our government has positioned ambulance services in such a way that we can beat our chest and say we can respond to any form of emergency within 10 minutes, we built capacity, we purchased sophisticated equipment, we bought motor cycles we built personnel, both locally and internationally, we are planning rigorously with an international organization like IOM to have first class disaster management and migration studies institute in Lagos state.”

    He therefore appealed to Lagosians to play their part in disaster management. According to him, most disasters were caused by the recklessness and carelessness of our people.

    He also revealed that the agency is coming stronger, to ensure it does not carry out enforcement alone, “there are going to be penalties to this because life has no spare part and you know the enormous money that the government is using to build the capacity of emergency responders,  to make them not only effective but efficient.”

  • Chemical materials trigger fire at Lagos industrial facility

    Chemical materials trigger fire at Lagos industrial facility

    Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has said chemical materials stored at an industrial facility were responsible for the large-scale fire that gutted Parco Enterprises Nigeria Limited at Alaba Suru, Badagry Expressway, Lagos.

    The fire broke out about 7:25 p.m., on Saturday, at a warehouse used for chemical blending and storage in a larger industrial cluster.

    LASEMA said the inferno spread rapidly, engulfing an estimated 15,000 square metres of the facility.

    In a statement, the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA said the intensity of the fire was heightened by the nature of the materials stored at the site.

    “The affected facility is a warehouse and chemical blending and storage site. The fire rapidly spread across an estimated 15,000sqm, involving stored chemical materials. The intensity of the incident led to intermittent explosions for several hours,” the statement said.

    The explosions, according to the agency, caused widespread panic and posed a significant threat to nearby facilities and residents in the surrounding community.

    LASEMA said the fire was contained through a coordinated emergency response involving its Response Unit, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Fire Service, and private fire assets provided by Veepee.

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    Damping-down operations have since started, with emergency responders maintaining a presence at the scene to prevent re-ignition and protect adjoining facilities.

    The agency explained that firefighting was carried out from multiple access points. While the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service led suppression efforts from the main entrance, LASEMA Fire teams provided support from the rear of the facility.

    LASEMA also acknowledged the assistance of beverage company La casera, which supplied water to sustain firefighting.

    Preliminary assessments by emergency responders identified several risk factors that may have contributed to the scale and severity of the fire.

    “These include a high volume of volatile chemical storage within a confined space, inadequate ventilation within the warehouse facility, and insufficient emergency preparedness measures to manage a fire of this magnitude,” LASEMA said.

    The agency noted that investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the fire outbreak.

  • Chemical materials trigger fire at Lagos industrial facility

    Chemical materials trigger fire at Lagos industrial facility

    Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has revealed in a preliminary assessment that chemical materials stored at an industrial facility were responsible for a major fire at a warehouse in Badagry, Lagos.

    The fire, which broke out at about 7:25 p.m., on Saturday evening, occurred at a warehouse used for chemical blending and storage within a larger industrial cluster.

    LASEMA said the inferno spread rapidly, engulfing an estimated 15,000 square metres of the facility.

    In a statement issued by the agency’s Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, LASEMA disclosed that the intensity of the fire was heightened by the nature of the materials stored at the site.

    “The affected facility is a warehouse and chemical blending and storage site. The fire rapidly spread across an estimated 15,000sqm, involving stored chemical materials. The intensity of the incident led to intermittent explosions for several hours,” the statement said.

    The explosions, according to the agency, caused widespread panic and posed a significant threat to nearby facilities and residents in the surrounding community.

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    LASEMA said the fire was eventually contained through a coordinated emergency response involving its Response Unit, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Fire Service, and private fire assets provided by Veepee.

    Damping-down operations have since commenced, with emergency responders maintaining a presence at the scene to prevent re-ignition and protect adjoining facilities.

    The agency explained that firefighting operations were carried out from multiple access points. While the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service led suppression efforts from the main entrance, LASEMA Fire teams provided support from the rear of the facility.

    LASEMA also acknowledged the assistance of beverage company Lacasera, which supplied water to sustain firefighting operations.

    Preliminary assessments by emergency responders identified several risk factors that may have contributed to the scale and severity of the fire.

    “These include a high volume of volatile chemical storage within a confined space, inadequate ventilation within the warehouse facility, and insufficient emergency preparedness measures to manage a fire of this magnitude,” LASEMA said.

    The agency noted that investigations were ongoing to determine the immediate cause of the fire outbreak.

  • LASEMA releases preliminary report on Qatar Air emergency landing

    LASEMA releases preliminary report on Qatar Air emergency landing

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has released a preliminary report on the Qatar Air that made an emergency landing at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, on Friday.  

    According to an e-statement by the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency acted promptly after receiving a distress alert on its 767/112 Toll Free Emergency Lines. 

    Explaining how it happened, LASEMA disclosed that preliminary investigations conducted by the Agency’s Response Teams revealed that the immediate cause of the incident was due to technical issues suffered by the distressed aircraft.

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    “All passengers of the distressed aeroplane were evacuated safely; no injuries reported.”

    It also disclosed that there was neither loss of lives nor injuries sustained by anyone due to the operation.

    “Despite the technical issues and forced landing, the incident did not result in any significant damage to the aircraft, and the aircraft has been secured on the apron, while recovery activities have been completed,” the agency added. 

  • GNI building fire: LASEMA asks family members to register missing persons

    GNI building fire: LASEMA asks family members to register missing persons

    The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has responded to concerns expressed in certain quarters regarding persons reported missing following the recent fire incident at the Great Nigeria Insurance building on Martins Street, Lagos Island.

    In a terse e-statement, signed by the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency advised the family members to register their concerns at the Complaints Unit of the agency, where details would be carefully received and a consolidated list of reported missing persons compiled.

    Despite reports in certain quarters that the search had ended, Oke-Osanyintolu assured that “Search and recovery operation is ongoing.”

  • LASEMA to residents: vacate firm’s vicinity

    LASEMA to residents: vacate firm’s vicinity

    Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has advised people living around the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House, located at Martins Street, Lagos Island, which was razed on Christmas Eve, to vacate the area, ‘’as the integrity of the buildings has been compromised.’’

    The agency said this while releasing its preliminary assessment of the fire.

    The Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, in a statement said the inferno had escalated rapidly across multiple floors, posing risks to lives, adjoining buildings and the safety of the public within the surrounding perimeter.

    He said due to the escalating nature of the fire, residents, traders, occupants of neighbouring buildings, and people within the immediate and extended vicinity of the affected plaza “are hereby advised to leave the area immediately, to prevent possible casualties arising from smoke inhalation, structural compromise, or fire spread.”

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    To contain the fire, Oke-Osanyintolu said

    emergency response teams, including LASEMA’s Shark Response Team, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos Ambulance Service and other responders were engaged.

    The permanent secretary urged the public to “remain calm and orderly during evacuation, avoid returning to the affected area until officially cleared, refrain from obstructing emergency operations and follow instructions from emergency and security personnel on ground.”

    He said the agency will provide timely updates as rescue and fire suppression efforts progress.

  • LASEMA PS assures LG of support

    LASEMA PS assures LG of support

    The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management (LASEMA), Dr. Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, has assured the chairman of Alimosho Local Government, Lagos, of LASEMA’s readiness to work with the council on emergencies and disasters.

    Osanyitolu disclosed this during a visit to Alimosho Local Government in fulfilment of the promise he made to the vice chairmen, during a stakeholders’ meeting on the revitalization of Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMC).

    While commending the chairman of Alimosho Local Government, Mr Akinpelu Johnson, the LASEMA PS, disclosed that all emergency responders had been put on red alert to forestall any eventuality during the yuletide period.

    He said all the LEMC was being fine-tuned to ensure that disasters and emergencies are reduce during the Yuletide

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    Responding, Alimosho Local Government chair described the LASEMA’s visit as “both timely and significant, as it reflects the Lagos State Government’s unwavering commitment to strengthening emergency preparedness and response at the grassroots level, where the impact of disasters is most immediate and deeply felt.”

    He said the council would continue to support the revitalisation of the Local Emergency Management Committee (LEMC) and the adoption of clear Standard Operating Procedures aligned with LASEMA’s Command and Control framework.

    He assured of the council’s readiness to receive technical guidance, candid observations, and recommendations, from LASEMA, adding that “all of which will help us deepen preparedness, enhance coordination, and reduce risks across our communities.

    He advised the residents of the local government to be moderate and warned that all forms of carnival have been put on hold in Lagos, urging the residents to comply with the directive. 

  • LASEMA releases report on Ikorodu Road accident

    LASEMA releases report on Ikorodu Road accident

    Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has released a preliminary report on the accident that occurred at Obanikoro, Ikorodu Road, Lagos.

    A statement by the Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the accident involved two commercial vehicles.

    Further investigations on the accident that happened yesterday, according to LASEMA, showed that the driver of a red commercial bus with registration number AKD-376-YJ lost control while driving inward Ikorodu.

    It was further revealed that the accident occurred when the driver changed lanes and collided with an oncoming commercial bus with number plate LSR-145-XA, thereby resulting in the accident, which left several passengers injured.

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    Ten victims were involved in the accident, with a woman and a baby boy dying.

    LASEMA said eight other persons were injured.

    “The victims were promptly attended to by LASAMBUS and FRSC ambulances before being taken to the nearest hospital for further medical attention,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.

    He said the LASEMA Response Team conducted an appropriate Risk Assessment of the accident scene and activated necessary safety and control measures to curtail secondary incident.

  • Institute gets boost from stakeholders

    Institute gets boost from stakeholders

    The Institute of Disaster Management and Migration Studies, midwifed by the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), received a boost yesterday.

    Stakeholders from various bodies and agencies, including the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), expressed their willingness to support the new institute.

    At a meeting, tagged: “Stakeholders’ Consultative Meeting on the Establishment of the Institute of Disaster Management and Migration Studies (IDM & MS),” the stakeholders hailed the new initiative.

    They promised to support the institute in different capacities, including drawing a curriculum for its courses, among other areas.

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    During the event, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, announced that the institute would train personnel within and outside Nigeria.

    Oke-Osanyintolu stated that how disasters are managed is not just important but urgent.

    He stressed that it was important to build capacity ahead of emergencies, hence the need to train people, share knowledge, and develop new solutions.

    The permanent secretary stated that the IDM & MS became necessary for several reasons.

    “We must professionalise this field so that disaster management is not seen as something we improvise — but as something we are well-trained and well-prepared for,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.