Editor
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, responsible for coordinating emergencies and disasters in the State, responded to a total of 121 incidents in August 2024, marking the lowest monthly figure compared to previous months. This brings the total number of incidents attended by the Agency in 2024 to 1,094, and a cumulative total of 7,536 incidents responded to between June 1, 2019, and August 31, 2024.
In a press statement signed by Nosa Okunbor, Head of the Public Affairs Unit, it was highlighted that the analysis of the 121 emergency incidents in August 2024 revealed that Road Accidents were the most prevalent category, with 39 incidents, including 36 Accidents and 3 Breakdowns.
The Truck/Tanker category followed closely with 34 incidents, consisting of 27 Accidents, 1 Fallen Container, 4 Broken-Down Trucks, and 2 Fallen Truck/Tankers. Fire Disasters and Medical Emergencies ranked third, each with 19 incidents.
Further breakdown revealed that the Fire Disaster category included 17 Fire Outbreaks, 1 Tanker/Truck Fire, and 1 Vehicular/BRT Fire, while the Medical Emergency category involved the recovery of 1 Dead Body and 18 other incidents.
Additionally, incidents such as Building Collapse, Gas Explosion, and Train Crash each accounted for 1 incident in the total of 121 attended to in August 2024.
Analysis of the Local Government Emergency Trends for August indicated that Alimosho LGA recorded the highest number of incidents with 20 out of the 121 incidents in Lagos State during that period.
This was followed by Eti-Osa LGA with 17 incidents, Kosofe LGA with 13 incidents, and Ikeja LGA with 12 incidents. The evaluation extended to other LGAs as well, showcasing the distribution of incidents across the state.
In the broader scope of the year, LASEMA responded to a total of 1,094 incidents from January 1 to August 31, 2024. The data revealed that the Truck/Tanker category had the highest number of incidents, with 369 incidents in the last eight months. Road Accidents and Fire Disasters followed closely in the categorization of incidents, emphasizing the diverse nature of emergencies handled by the Agency.
Looking back at the yearly emergency trends during Governor Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu’s administration, LASEMA attended to a total of 7,536 incidents over the last six years. The figures showed fluctuations in the number of incidents each year, with the Agency continuously adapting to meet the evolving challenges in emergency and disaster management.
The administration’s commitment to equipping the Agency with advanced technology and training reflects the transition towards Disaster Risk Reduction, aligning with global best practices.
