The Lagos Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) is partnering Akwa Ibom State on disaster management and response.

The partnership is to help Akwa Ibom to develop a formidable emergency response team.

The Akwa Ibom state team is in Lagos on a three-day visit to understand and understudy disaster management and operations from LASEMA.

Speaking to journalists on Monday in Lagos, the permanent secretary, LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osayintolu, said the team from Akwa Ibom State was on ground for shared knowledge on disaster management.

Mr Oke-Osayintolu said part of the learning process for the team was to understand what makes LASEMA thick.

He said the mandate of the agency encompasses emergency and disaster prevention, preparedness, mitigation, recovery and relief.

According to him, LASEMA is uniquely positioned to provide swift and effective responses to a diverse array of emergencies within the territorial boundaries of Lagos.

“I take pride in sharing that our legislative framework empowers LASEMA to coordinate the activities of primary, secondary and tertiary responses, including NGOs.

“This collaborative approach enhances our collective response capabilities and builds resilience in the face of emergencies and disasters.

“Recognising that the impact of emergencies is most deeply felt at the grassroots level, LASEMA has established Local Council Emergency Management Committees and Local Emergency Cadets.

“These initiatives ensure prompt and effective responses to emergencies across the state,” Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said.

He explained that the success story of LASEMA could be attributed to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who gave the support, political will and passion to ensure that LASEMA continued to save lives and property in the state.

He also thanked the dedicated staff of the agency for their doggedness and belief in the operation of the agency.

Also speaking, a representative of the team from Akwa Ibom, John Isangedighi, said they settled for Lagos because of LASEMA’s giant strides in disaster management.

“LASEMA has on-ground structures, they have management, they have operational models, they have tactical teams and units that in the event of any disaster or emergency, the people on the ground in terms of human capital,” Mr Isangedighi said.

“This informed our decision to visit Lagos State to understudy their operational models, administrative structure, tactical command and the various units they use in meeting whatever challenge that may confront them,” Mr Isangedighi said.

He said that on getting back to Akwa Ibom State, they would report to the governor what they have seen in Lagos.

Mr Isangedighi said the present administration in Akwa Ibom State had the political will to make Akwa SEMA work.

(NAN)