The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency has called on residents of the state to adopt positive attitudinal changes to reduce fire outbreaks.

The permanent secretary of LASEMA, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, made the call on Thursday in Lagos.

Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said the agency was well equipped to tackle emergency response challenges across the state, noting that fire incidents could be avoided or significantly reduced if residents complied with institutional requirements and safety regulations.

“It is rather sad that people who ought to know better willfully disobey standard regulations, which usually lead to disasters,” he said.

The permanent secretary noted that the agency had never been overwhelmed by the series of emergencies recorded in the state, attributing this to strong preparedness, adequate resources and effective coordination under the state government.

“We are not overwhelmed. When you are well prepared and you have the necessary resources, you cannot be overwhelmed. In Lagos State, we are well-positioned and well-prepared for any form of emergency,” he said.

Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said LASEMA had significantly leveraged technology while deliberately strengthening human capacity to avoid overreliance on systems that could fail.

“Technology is very important, but if care is not taken, technology can fail. At LASEMA, we combine advanced technology with strong human capacity. Our equipment is highly computerised and digitalised, and our emergency number has been upgraded to improve efficiency and effectiveness,” he said.

He added, “The political will is key. The governor has taken ownership of emergency management. When incidents occur, everyone knows the government is watching, reports are monitored, and discipline is enforced,” he said.

Mr Oke-Osanyintolu explained that apparent discrepancies in casualty figures released by different emergency agencies often stemmed from differences in mandate and operational scope.

“Other agencies like the Fire Service and the Lagos State Ambulance Service have their individual roles. LASEMA is the umbrella coordinating agency. We respond mainly to major incidents, while others may attend to smaller cases,” he said.

According to him, casualty figures released by agencies usually reflect only the victims they personally handled, while LASEMA adopts a holistic approach.

He described LASEMA as a multidisciplinary agency comprising doctors, nurses, engineers, and fire and building experts, stressing that emergency response goes beyond firefighting alone. 

Reviewing the agency’s performance in 2025, he said LASEMA had demonstrated both effectiveness and efficiency, even when compared with emergency management systems in developed countries.

On disaster prevention, he highlighted the state’s emphasis on early warning systems, advocacy and community-based structures. According to him, the existing inter-agency command structure prevents inefficiency among responding agencies.

He also addressed public concerns about a recent controversial incident, explaining that emergency management involves measures taken before, during, and after disasters. Mr Oke-Osanyintolu assured Lagos residents that the agency would continue to improve its operations to safeguard lives and property across the state.

He reiterated the agency’s commitment to sustained sensitisation and advocacy on safety measures required to prevent or mitigate disasters.

(NAN)