The Nation Newspaper

Tag: LASEMA

  • Yuletide: Rescue agencies on red alert as LASEMA appeals for caution

    As Nigerians prepare for a long yuletide holiday, rescue and emergency management agencies in Lagos have been put on red alert for any eventuality.

    This is just as residents have been urged to be cautious as they celebrate the yuletide in order to avoid unnecessary loss of lives and properties.

    The General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency  (LASEMA) , Adesina Tiamiyu made the appeal on Thursday, urging people to eschew excessive drinking, reckless driving and any act capable of causing accidents.

    Tiamiyu noted that LASEMA, Fire Service, Safety Service, LASAMBUS, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) among others have been put on red alert to protect the lives and properties of the people living and embarking on business activities in the state.

    In a statement signed by the agency’s spokesman, Kehinde Adebayo, Tiamiyu said: “As the year comes to an end, it is a common tradition for people to visit their loved ones, attend social events, disobey traffic rules and engage in excessive consumption of alcoholic products.

    “Also, some drive vehicles that are not road-worthy.  All these usually results in loss of lives and properties.  Emergency incidents usually increase due to the euphoria of excitement displayed by people while trying to move from one point to another. Hence, the need to celebrate the festive period devoid of these acts becomes essential.”

    He urged parents to discourage their wards from using fireworks, highlighting the health implications.

    On plans by the agency to ensure a hitch-free celebration, Tiamiyu said 24-hour patrols would be carried out across the state by the necessary agencies.

    He said: “Aside the routine night patrol by the agency’s towing vehicles around Third Mainland Bridge to Berger end of Lagos Ibadan Expressway and Western Avenue to Lagos Abeokuta Expressway; the LASEMA Response Unit has deployed personnel and heavy duty trucks such as the Super Metro to be stationed at Anthony, to cover Ikorodu Axis and another one at Ajah to cover Lekki-Epe Expressway.

    “Other areas of coverage include Ikeja, Mile 2, Badagry Expressway, Iyana Iba- LASU Road, Igando-Ikotun Axis. The agency will extend patrol through Apapa, Orile Igamu, Ijora Badia, Ajegunle Axis and its environs.”

    He appealed to religious bodies, club owners and event centres to work with the government and security agencies to monitor the activities around them and report suspicious, unusual activities during such gathering that may compromise security of lives and properties.

     

  • One injured in Lagos collapsed building

    One injured in Lagos collapsed building

    At least one person sustained injury on Thursday after a building under construction collapsed in Ikeja, Lagos.

    The incident occurred at about 3:00 p.m. at 21, Makinde Street Alausa, barely 24 hours after the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LSBCA) served a stop-work order on the building.

    The Nation gathered that a pillar at the back of the building cracked, causing the structure to tilt sideways, resting on another building.

    About five workers said to be in the premises at the time of the incident, our correspondent learnt jumped on the roof of an adjourning building but only one of them was injured.

    According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the two-storey building collapsed from the base because of structural defect.

    LASEMA’s General Manager, Adesina Tiamiyu, said occupants of the adjoining building were safely evacuated.

    He said: “Occupants of adjoining building around the partially collapsed structure were safely evacuated, while the vicinity of the partially collapsed building was cordoned off to prevent any form of movement.

    “No life was lost, but a male adult who was working in the collapsed building sustained injury and was treated immediately.

    “Proper investigation would be conducted on the incident while the collapsed building will be recovered by controlled demolition so as to ensure utmost safety of lives and properties.”

    He advised developers to ensure they abide by building regulations and employ the services of certified engineers for building construction to avoid incidents such as this.

     

     

     

  • LASEMA trains over 500 volunteers to boost emergency response

    LASEMA trains over 500 volunteers to boost emergency response

    No fewer than 500 volunteers yesterday received trainings on emergency response at the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) relief camp in Igando.

    The participants, who were drawn from the 57 Local councils across the state, were taken through various simulations on how to rescue victims of air, road or water mishap.

    They were also trained on how to handle cases of fire outbreak and building collapse to minimise casualties.

    Speaking at the event, Special Duties Commissioner, Seye Oladejo said the participants were trained on volunteerism, communication in disaster management, search and rescue, command and incident command structure, Basic Life Support (BLS) among others, to equip them with necessary training in saving lives and properties.

    According to him, there has been remarkable improvement in LASEMA’s management of disaster since Governor Akinwunmi Ambode assumed office last year.

    He attributed the improvement to the reorganisation processes the agency went through as well as the acquisition of equipments, inauguration of the LASEMA Response Unit (LRU) all aimed at enhancing emergency management.

    The commissioner stated that the engagement of the volunteers would enable the state have the advantage of local knowledge of emergency scenes, adding that they would be properly guided in their rescue efforts.

    Oladejo said Ambode’s heavy investment in emergency management was not just to safe lives, but also to attract investments and boost investor’s confidence.

    He said: “The LASEMA Response Unit (LRU) and the sophisticated equipment such as Tow Trucks, Crane, Fire Trucks, ICU Ambulances, Forklifts etc, which most times are dispatched to various emergency intervention such as fallen tanker/containers, automobile accident, and removal of stationary vehicles especially at night has tremendously reduced as well as mitigated emergencies that would have claimed lives in the State.

    “It is very important to note here that emergency/disaster management requires adequate training and professionalism, this is important because minor injuries if not properly attended to by competent hands could lead to complications, or rescuer without proper training, could turn into victim.”

    LASEMA General Manager Adesina Tiamiyu said the volunteers’ training was conceived primarily, to reduce and manage disaster risk through capacity building of local inhabitants of the State.

    “The whole idea is to bring emergency management to the communities, in realisation of the fact that it is the communities that bear the real brunt of the emergencies and disasters.

    “Based on this realization, it is only wise that a solid foundation should be laid for effective emergency/disaster management at the community level. Also ensure that our communities and the grassroots people become sufficiently equipped, sensitized and enlightened on issues of emergencies/disasters prevention, response and management,” Tiamiyu said.

  • Woman electrocuted in Lagos

    A middle aged woman was on Wednesday electrocuted at Shokoya, off Dapson Street, Oke Ira Ojodu, by a faulty Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) mini transformer.

    The Nation gathered that the 25KVA transformer, which was gutted by fire supplied electricity to four houses- 4, 7, 9A and 9B.

    Mrs. Florence Okanlawon reportedly tried to switch off her refrigerator as the fire raged but was electrocuted in the process.

    Our correspondent learnt that the woman’s daughter, Taiwo, who made efforts to rescue her, was injured.

    Neighbours, it was gathered, rushed the duo to General Hospital, Ifako Ijaiye, where the woman later died.

    It took the intervention of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and state Fire Service to contain the fire.

    It was learnt that the emergency workers contacted the Ikeja Electricity Distribution Company (IKEDC) to disconnect power supply to the neighbourhood in order to prevent disaster.

    Contacted, LASEMA’s General Manager, Adesina Tiamiyu, said the incident could have been avoided if adequate precaution was taken.

    He said investigation would be conducted to ascertain the cause of the fire.

  • Two injured, shops razed in Lagos inferno

    At least two persons sustained injury and about 11 shops razed in a fire outbreak at a shopping mall in Agege, a Lagos district, on Monday.

    The incident which occurred at about 2:30 p.m., at Odo Eran Shopping Complex, was reportedly caused by inappropriate storage of chemicals.

    The Nation gathered that a firm selling paint indiscriminately stored the product, which exploded after coming in contact with inflammable items.

    Confirming the incident, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Adesina Tiamiyu, said 10 other shops were salvaged by emergency workers.

    He said the injured persons were treated by the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).

    Tiamiyu appealed to shop owners and companies to be cautious in storing inflammable materials.

  • Ambode sacks LASEMA chief

    Ambode sacks LASEMA chief

    Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has sacked the General Manager of the State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Michael Akindele.

    The governor also announced Mr. Tiamiyu Muyiwa Adesina as Akindele’s replacement.

    This was contained in a letter signed by the state’s Head of Service, Mrs. Olabowale Ademola, on September 14.

    Although the letter did not state any reason for Akindele’s sack, a state government official said the move was part of the governor’s quest to reposition emergency management operations in the state.

     

  • Petrol station workers found dead inside underground tank

    Two workers of a popular petrol station in the Berger area of Ojodu, a Lagos suburb, were Friday found dead inside an underground petrol tank at the station.

    It was learnt that the victims, Adekunle Ipaye, and one simply identified as ‘United’ were cleaning the tank when they got trapped inside it.

    The spokesman of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Mr. Kehinde Adebayo, in a statement said the outcome of an investigation conducted by the agency’s official’s scene of the incident showed that that the two victims died as result of suffocation and gas at about 6:10 am.

    He said: “The victims died of suffocation and gas emission inside the underground tank early hours of Friday 25th March, 2016 at about 6.10 am while carrying out underground cleaning and renovation of the tank of Fatgbems Petrol Station at Oando Bus-Stop Berger. The Lagos State Fire Services and LASEMA Emergency Response Team recovered the bodies of the victims confirmed dead.

    “The bodies have been evacuated by the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit to the Lagos Mainland Hospital Mortuary, while men of Ojodu Police Station and the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS).The General Manager LASEMA, Mr. Michael Akindele, said proper investigation would be conducted to ascertain what led to the incident. He however warned contractors to use right equipment and also adhere to other safety precautions while carrying out underground cleaning and other duties.”

  • Woman dies in Lagos building collapse

    A two-storey building collapsed in Mile 12 area of Lagos on Saturday morning, killing a 47-year-old woman.

    The building located at No. 9 Alli close, Mile 12, reportedly came down at 8:45am.

    The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Agency (LASEMA), Michael Akindele, confirmed the incident in a statement, saying rescue operation was ongoing.

    He attributed the incident to poor maintenance of the building.

    “It was a partial collapse which affected the balcony of the building.

    “One female victim was killed and the building has been condoned off for safety. The agencies on ground include LASEMA,ERT, Lagos State Fire Service and the Nigerian Police Force, Alapere division.

    “Investigation and assessment conducted revealed that the building had shown sign of distress as some portion of the balcony was caving in.

    “The 47-year-old woman sustained bodily injury and died on her way to the hospital. The occupants of the 16-room building have been evacuated and the building condoned off for safety,” the LASEMA chief stated.

     

  • Police arrest Lekki collapsed building contractor

    Police arrest Lekki collapsed building contractor

    The Police in Lagos have arrested the contractor who is handling the collapsed five storey building in Lekki area of the state.

    The Lagos State Police Spokesperson, SP Oladapo Badmus, who made the disclosure to the News agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos, did not disclose where he was arrested.

    Badmus gave his name as Odofin Taiwo, adding that he was currently under investigation.

    Meanwhile, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) told NAN that the death toll at the collapsed five storey building in Lekki, had risen to 30 as at 4 p.m. on Wednesday

    The General Manager of LASEMA, Mr Michael Akindele, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that as at 12.40 p.m. on the same day, 13 other people had been rescued.

    Correspondents of NAN who were at the scene report that the 28th dead person was brought out from the rubble at about 2 p.m., and the 30th minutes before 4 p.m.

    NAN reports that the dead bodies had been evacuated to the mortuary.

    NAN also observed that stench from the dead bodies filled the air, forcing the rescue operators and other sympathisers to cover their nostrils with handkerchief.

    “As we speak, we have been able to rescue 13 people alive, and unfortunately, 30 others have been brought out dead.

    “The operation is still ongoing, and I want to commend all the security agencies that have ensured the protection of the rescue operatives.

    NAN also reports that the Standard Organisation (SON) led by its Director, Inspectorate and Complaint, Mr Bede Obayi, inspected the collapsed building and others under construction in the area.

    Obayi ordered for the collection of the different building materials used for the collapsed building, including iron rods, blocks, sand, granites and sea water for laboratory analysis.

    “The first thing in a house is the block, from the ones we have examined here, it has failed the test.

    “The construction of this building is not up to 50 meters from the sea, showing that this land was reclaimed from the sea.

    “There are conditions for reclaiming a land from the sea and the kind of building materials to be used in such lands.

    “We have to examine all the materials used for this building and see if they meet the condition,’’ he told NAN.

    “You need to also see that the right professionals handled the building project. If you use the best materials without the right professionals handling the materials, things will still go wrong.

    “You must be a registered professional engineer for you to handle this type of project.

    “If you want to build, you must look for a professional. We are going to investigate all the structures and materials in this environment,’’ Obayi said.

     

  • Building Collapse: Lagos halts Lekki Gardens’ construction

    …Asks directors to report to Police within 24hours

    The Lagos State Government has halted construction on Lekki Gardens’ site, following the death of 25 construction site workers who lost their lives on Tuesday as a result of the collapse of a five-storey building under construction.

    The State Government has consequently directed the suspension of work at the site and ordered the State Police Command to cordon it off as it is now a crime scene.

    In a press release issued on Wednesday and signed by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Steve Ayorinde, the Lagos State Government also announced that based on preliminary reports and investigation, it was discovered that the collapsed building was served contravention notice for exceeding the approved floors and thereafter sealed by the Lagos State Building Control Agency.

    It added that it has also been discovered that in a brazen act of defiance and impunity, the owners of the building, Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited, the promoters of Lekki Gardens, criminally unsealed the property and continued building beyond the approved floors until the unfortunate incident of Tuesday which has led to loss of lives.

    The statement added that arising from the Lagos State Executive Council meeting decision on Wednesday, the State Government will no longer tolerate the action of unscrupulous owners and builders who challenge its supervisory control thereby endangering the lives of Lagosians.

    The government also directed further integrity tests be carried out on every other construction project which has or is currently being handled by Messrs Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited in the interest of public safety.

    Furthermore, the release quoted the State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode as saying that all directors of Lekki Worldwide Estate Limited are strongly advised to submit themselves to the State Commissioner of Police within the next twenty four hours in their own interest or face immediate arrest.

    The statement also commended the timely response and remarkable intervention by the combined men of the Lagos State Emergency Authority (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Red Cross, National Emergency Agency (NEMA), Lagos State Building Control Agency and the Rapid Response Squad (RRS).

    The State Government also warned that it will no longer be business as usual stating that any developer either on existing or new building projects who fails to comply with building and construction regulations or attempts to subvert the law will henceforth face criminal prosecution.

    The State Government however expresses its condolences on the death of the victims.