Collaboration, others critical to disaster management, says boss 
Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has said that between January and July 2023, it responded to 795 emergency cases, saving lives and property in the process.

Permanent Secretary, LASEMA, Dr. Oluwafemi Oke-Osanyintolu, who said this, yesterday, during a media briefing to mark the 2023 World Humanitarian Day in Lagos, commended all humanitarian workers for their sacrifices and commitment.

According to him, a closer examination on a monthly basis revealed that the agency attended to 129 incidents in January, 122 in February, 121 in March, 111 in April, 66 in May, 122 in June and 119 as at last day in July 2023, while having attended to over 100 incidents in August so far.

He said collaboration and sharing of information and intelligence are critical to efficient and effective emergency disaster management in the state.

He noted that though the humanitarian principles originated from the work of the International Committee of Red Cross and the National Red Cross/Red Crescent Societies, responsible governments prioritise resilience as part of their political and sustainable development agenda, to make disaster risk reduction a legacy, while paying necessary attention to protection and improvement of environmental, social and economic conditions, to leave the community more prosperous and secure than before.

Oke-Osanyintolu stated that disaster risk reduction is a no-regret investment that protects lives, property, livelihoods, schools, businesses and employment as is the case of Lagos State Government, under the leadership of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, whose administration continually invests in the emergency management systems of the state.

“Due to the changing scope and scale of disasters, both natural and technological, global community-based organisations are not only getting increasingly central to the process of offering critical support in immediate disaster response, but are also contributing necessary redevelopment funding that supports community recovery,” he said.