The Lagos State Government has urged residents to cooperate with emergency responders as proactive steps have been taken to mitigate the impact of flood within the state.
Head, Public Affairs Unit, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Nosa Okunbor, announced these measures in a statement released on Monday.
He revealed that the LASEMA Stakeholders Technical Working Committee on Flood-Free Lagos convened today in Alausa to deliberate on strategies to combat flooding, following the Nigerian Meteorological Agency’s forecast of heavy rainfall in 2024.
Okunbor emphasized that the primary focus of the stakeholders’ meeting was to develop effective flood control strategies, acknowledging Lagos’s susceptibility to flash floods due to its geographical features.
The Technical Working Committee includes representatives from various agencies such as LASEMA, the National Emergency Management Agency, the Red Cross of Nigeria, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Lagos State Ambulance Services, the Federal Road Safety Corps and the Ministry of the Environment, among others. The meeting was held in the conference room of the LASEMA Command and Control Centre.
Okunbor highlighted that LASEMA’s boss, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, encouraged Lagos residents to cooperate with emergency responders during rescue operations to minimize fatalities and property loss in the event of disasters.
The statement read, “The LASEMA Stakeholders Technical Working Committee on Flood Free Lagos converged in Alausa today to brainstorm on ways and means to mitigate against flooding in the state, following prediction of torrential rainfall by NIMET, this year.
“The Technical Working Committee comprises of representatives from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, Red Cross of Nigeria, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS, Federal Road Safety Corps, FRSC, and Ministry of the Environment amongst others, met in the conference room of LASEMA Command and Control Centre.
“According to the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, nexus of the stakeholders forum, was to strategize on ways to control flooding as Lagos topography makes the state prone to perennial flash floods.
“Stressing that aside from de-silting drainages, carting away of debris and clearing of canals, to prevent floodings, the PS stated that the focal point of the forum was to strategize on ways of preventing over lapping of functions during emergencies.
“Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu appealed to Lagos residents to cooperate with emergency responders during rescue operations to reduce fatalities and prevent loss of properties in the case of eventualities of disasters.
“Other stakeholders in agreement to the Permanent Secretary’s assertion, corroborated the need for synergy among emergency responders to reduce unnecessary depletion of the state government’s resources in the management of emergencies and disasters through cooperation.
“The PS LASEMA revealed that the Technical Working Committee will hold a Workshop 3rd of next month, with public advocacy slated for June 13th, to educate residents on disaster mitigation.”
