By Joy Anyim
As part of the efforts to reduce the impact of emergency, disaster and to increase response time during emergency across the state, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), has approved the establishment of Zonal Coordinators for the three senatorial districts.
This the agency said was necessary towards achieving adequate safety of lives and properties of persons working and doing business in the state in the areas of Disaster Risk Reduction (DIR).
The Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu disclosed this on Friday, at the Command and Control Centre, Alausa-Ikeja during his maiden meeting with the newly appointed Zonal Coordinators and other Heads of Department in the Agency.
He said the establishment is in consonance with the LASEMA Law of Lagos State of 2015 as (Amended ) by the Law 2011 for the establishment of Zonal Rescue Coordinating Centres.
According to him, “ The Zonal Rescue Coordinating Centres are to be located in the three Senatorial Districts of the State; namely, Lagos West, East and Central Senatorial Districts and to be headed by the newly appointed Senior Officers in the Agency who are to be deployed to the Centres to handle emergencies and other related issues in the areas.
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“While the Cappa Dispatch Centre in Oshodi, Command and Control Centre, Alausa-Ikeja and the Dispatch Centre, Onipanu, on Ikorodu Road are to report directly to the Chief Executive Officer of the Agency for efficient and effective disaster management.”
He noted that the Zonal Rescue Coordinating Centres would be charged with the responsibility to determine the resources required to tackle, identify emergencies/risks in the Local Government Areas, prepare inventories facilities on business and structures that are prone to emergencies and report to the CEO for appropriate action.
Dr. Osanyintolu explained that ” the impact of any disaster is to the grassroots, as such Zonal Coordinators are expected to work with relevant Stakeholders, such as the Red Cross, Local Emergency Management Committees (LEMC) in ensuring prompt and adequate response to all emergencies”.
While emphasising that the Agency is stepping up massive advocacy to ensure that every citizenry in the State is safety conscious and that emergencies are reduced to the barest minimum, however, he advised Lagosians to cooperate with the present administration of His Excellency Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, by reporting any emergency through the emergency toll free number 112/767.
The LASEMA boss, however, charged the Zonal Heads to hit the ground running, raise the bar of performance as well as to join hands with the present administration in actualizing its mandate in making Lagos State a safe haven for all and sundry.
