Sanwo-Olu Calls for Stronger Collaboration in Disaster Management
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has reaffirmed the state’s leading role in disaster preparedness and response but stressed the need for stronger collaboration among state agencies to effectively tackle emergencies and national challenges.
Speaking at the maiden National State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) Conference in Lagos on Thursday, themed “Strengthening Sub-National Emergency Management for a Resilient Nigeria”, Sanwo-Olu, represented by his deputy, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, said no state can confront disasters in isolation.
The governor noted that every part of the country faces unique challenges ranging from floods, fires, epidemics, and industrial accidents to the unpredictable impacts of climate change. He described the conference as a crucial step towards building stronger partnerships for emergency management nationwide.
“This gathering marks the beginning of a new era: one where state agencies collaborate rather than operate in isolation; where knowledge is shared, lessons are learned, and every citizen, from the North to the South, can have faith in a dependable, coordinated response system,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He outlined key investments by his administration through the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), including the Lagos Emergency Response Rescue Unit, an upgraded mobile app and call centre, and expanded training and partnerships. He cited recent coordinated operations in flash flood responses in Ikorodu and Ajegunle, and the Mushin building collapse rescue, as proof of Lagos’ preparedness.
Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, described the conference as a new chapter for Nigeria’s emergency management sector, bringing together all state agencies, federal institutions, private sector players, international partners, and frontline responders under one roof for the first time.
The Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar Abubakar, assured that the agency would continue to strengthen early warning systems, improve data forecasting, expand grassroots capacity, and ensure transparency in interventions.
Guest Speaker, Dr. Leke Pitan, in his lecture “From Risk to Readiness: Strengthening Disaster Preparedness at the Sub-National Level”, recalled the establishment of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASEMBUS), which strategically positioned ambulances across traffic-prone areas to ensure timely medical response. He added that LASEMBUS was later integrated with fire, police, and traffic management services, alongside the adoption of toll-free emergency lines 767 and 112, to boost coordination.
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