LASEMA tasks residents on safety, rolls out response plans for yuletide

Following the sudden change of weather and preparations towards the Yuletide, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has advised Lagosians to be cautious in all dealings to avoid any form of emergency/disasters, as well as to debunk the myth that most emergencies and disasters are caused by ‘ember’ months.

Its General Manager, Adesina Tiamiyu, said yesterday that between the end of November and middle of March yearly, humidity drops to as low as 15 per cent, with residents experiencing dry cold weather, especially in the morning, while visibility is impaired because of the early morning haze.

He stated that the pervading adverse weather condition, increase in vehicular activities as a result of people travelling in and out of the state, urge for many trips by transporters for more income, overloading, over-speeding, use of bad tires, non-adherence to traffic rules and other related issues, are potential catalysts for road crashes and other forms of emergencies.

Tiamiyu, therefore, advised motorists to be conscious of the foggy weather condition and early morning and late evening mists associated with the Harmattan season, reminding them to continuously embark on routine checks of their vehicles.

Speaking on the incessant fire outbreak during this period, the LASEMA boss expressed the need for Lagosians to take necessary precautionary measures to avoid fire outbreaks and other emergencies, such as avoiding the use of candles, switching off electrical appliances when not in use, desist from storage of petroleum products, stop bush burning and unnecessary use of fireworks (banger), which are highly explosive.

While assuring residents that government is alive to its responsibility of safeguarding lives and properties, he advised all to be vigilant, especially when in large gathering, such as religious programmes, carnivals, clubs, event centres and restaurants by monitoring activities around them and reporting suspicious and unusual activities to security agencies through the emergency numbers- 112/767, which is toll free and open to all.

The agency he said, would continue routine day and night patrol with its tow trucks around the 3rd Mainland Bridge to Berger end of Lagos–Ibadan Expressway, Western Avenue to Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway and the heavy duty trucks, Super Metro to be stationed at Anthony to cover Ikorodu Axis and Lekki-Epe Expressway, while also covering Ikeja, Mile 2, Badagry Expressway and other strategic locations across the state to tow off any broken down vehicle causing impediment on the road, as this could possibly result in unnecessary accidents.