Tayo Ogunbiyi
Universally, no one prays for disaster to happen. But then, the reality is that occurrence of natural and man-made disasters is an integral part of our daily living. Nevertheless, in as much as no one can really predict where, when and how tragedy might occur, its containment whenever it does come up could be strategically planned for ahead of time.
It is in line with this reality that the Lagos State government established “The Safety Arena” at Cappa, Oshodi. The creation of the Arena was borne out of the need to synchronize activities of the various Departments and Agencies that are saddled with the task of managing safety and emergency in the State. These include Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA); Fire Service Department; Environmental Health Department; Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS); State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU); Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA); Safety Commission; Lagos State Neighbourhood Safety Corps (LNSC); Nigerian Legion; Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in a particular place since they are inter-dependent.
The goal is to bring about improved inter-sectoral collaboration for emergency responders in the State. Undoubtedly, constant interface between various governmental Agencies is quite central to safety and emergency management. Cheerfully, the coming on board of the Arena has brought about easy synchronization of activities of all relevant stakeholders to achieve a common goal.
Currently, emergency management is being reinvented in the State to meet global standard. Part of the strategy is the repositioning of the Lagos State Emergency Agency, LASEMA. The Agency now operates via 4 additional centres, namely Command & Control Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, LASEMA Response Unit (LRU) Cappa Oshodi, LASEMA Response Unit, Lekki(by Lekki-Ikoyi Link Bridge) and LASEMA Response Unit Onipanu. Presently, plans are ongoing to establish additional 3 Divisional (Upgraded) Dispatch Centres at Ijanikin (to cover Badagry Axis), Temu Junction, Epe (to cover Epe-Itokin and Epe-Ijebu-Ode Axes) LASPOTECH, Ikorodu (to cover Ikorodu-Agbowa Axis),and a fourth conventional LASEMA Response Unit (LRU) at Costain (to cover Apapa Axis and its environs).
It needs to be stressed that while the Lekki Response Unit was strategically located to facilitate quick response to emergencies on the State’s waterways and for proximity to riverine areas of Lekki and environs, a new ultra-modern LASEMA Response Unit (LRU), strategically located along Ikorodu Road, a central location within the Lagos Mainland, was recently created. Also, Relief/Resettlement Camps have been created in Agbowa and Igando to cater for disaster-related Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) across the State while work has commenced on the construction of a third Relief/ Rehabilitation Camp in Lekki.
Since emergency management is mostly enhanced by improved tools, the LRU is now well equipped with modern emergency management apparatuses ranging from trucks, power bikes, heavy-duty vehicles and fire trucks, to Mobile Intensive Care Ambulances (MICA) which are stationed at strategic locations. In February, 2018, Light Rescue Equipment such as Hydraulic rescue equipment, Power Unit attached with Spreader, Rescue Ram, Cutters Combi Tools and Concrete Cutters were procured to further enhance emergency operation in the State. The Agency also recently launched 14 BMW Power Bikes which are used for on-spot reconnaissance assessments of emergency incidents.
Also, the scope of the activities of Emergency Management Volunteers, EMVs, in the State is being widened to enhance their operation. The, EMVs, which were drawn from all the Local Government/Council Development Areas of the State is a scheme designed to co-opt more people into emergency response enterprise in the State.
Similarly, with a view to improving its emergency response implementation strategy, a State Incident Management System (SIMS) at the Command and Control Centre has been developed to ensure that communications and coordination between responders are handled effectively, regardless of agency affiliations or event type or size. The capacity of the Centre to receive calls and transfer same to the appropriate agencies that would promptly react to the emergency has also been greatly enhanced. This has significantly helped in the response to most emergency cases.
In a bid to considerably reduce occurrence of man-made disasters in the State, safety matters are currently being promoted through the endorsement of effective and sustainable safety standard templates. Currently, emphasis in terms of safety advocacy is shifting from an intransigent mode to a more pragmatic model. Thus, awareness campaigns on the imperatives for reduction in exposure to risks at all levels through civic enlightenment, monitoring and above all improved safety consciousness are now being methodically carried out on a regular basis.
A safety guideline code for Constructions, Telecommunications, Automobiles, Events Safety, Fire Safety and Occupation safety has been developed while abatement and prohibition notices have been issued to companies that disregard safety standards and recommendations. Many public complaints bothering on safety issues were investigated while risks that would have caused incidents of various degrees in the State were mitigated.
Since fire outbreak remains a major disaster typically experienced across the globe, remarkable breakthrough is being made in the improvement and upgrade of its Fire Service Department. Presently, the State Fire Service boasts of 16 functional Fire Stations across the State. Aside combating fire, the State’s Fire fighters now respond to a broader range of emergencies that include Road Fire Accidents and Deep Well Rescue, chemical, biological, radiological explosions and other hazardous occurrences.
In view of Lagos’ growing population, the operational frontiers of the State’s Fire Service have been expanded. Three new stations were recently established at Bolade-Oshodi, Ejigbo and Abesan while additional 4 new ones are being planned for the Safety Arena, Eredo-Epe, Olorunda at Badagry and Ijegun Satellite Town. Similarly, facilities at the Fire Stations in Alausa, Ikeja, Isolo, Agege, Ilupeju, Badagry-Suru, Ikotun and Agege have been upgraded to boost performance.
Also, 225 old Fire Hydrants that were initially below ground level in Lagos Metropolis have been rehabilitated and upgraded while 50 new additional ones to link the Mini/Micro Water Works in the State have equally been installed. The hydrants have been providing easy access to copious water supply for firemen during fire fighting and rescue operations.
Also new fire fighting equipment such as complete sets of Master Breathing Apparatus, Tripod Stand Rescue Equipment, Dragon Max Flood lights, Duraline Hoses, Power Stream PPU Blower and units of 200liters Class “A” Special Foam etc were procured to further aid fire fighting. This has further enhanced the capacity of the State’s Fire Fighters to respond promptly to fire incidence, thereby saving lots of lives and properties. In order to sustain current momentum in the State Fire Service, fresh set of 250 new operatives were recently employed into the workforce.
Thus, it is safe to affirm that the State is poised to take emergency management to new heights. It must, however, be stressed that the citizenry need to embrace safety culture and practice in its entire ramification. This way, the rate of man-made emergency occurrences would be extremely reduced.
