The Lagos State Government has unveiled a technology-driven emergency management platform, the Lagos Emergency Responders Management System (LERMS), aimed at significantly improving response time and coordination during crises.
The system, launched on Monday at Alausa, marks a major step in strengthening the state’s public safety infrastructure by integrating citizens, emergency responders and control centres into a unified digital ecosystem.
Speaking at the unveiling, the General Manager of the Lagos State Command and Control Centre, Mr Femi Giwa, described LERMS as a milestone in the evolution of emergency management.
He explained that the platform enables residents to report emergencies through multiple channels, including IVR, SMS, USSD, social media and the Eko Help mobile application, ensuring wider accessibility and faster reporting.
Giwa noted that LERMS leverages artificial intelligence to verify incidents, reduce false alarms and support quicker, more accurate response. He added that the system also features in-vehicle communication tools, asset tracking systems and a multi-tier control centre structure for decentralised response with centralised oversight.
According to him, the platform includes an Emergency Notification and Alert System for real-time communication with residents, as well as an Ambulance Services Management System to track ambulance deployment and hospital capacity.
He further highlighted the system’s predictive intelligence capability, which can detect potential hazards such as gas leaks, stressing that active public participation would be key to its effectiveness.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr Gbenga Oyerinde, described the initiative as transformative, noting that it unifies major response agencies such as the Lagos State Ambulance Service, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority and the Fire Service.
“In a megacity like Lagos, proactive and intelligent systems are essential for safeguarding lives and property,” Oyerinde said, adding that the platform would enhance coordination and resource allocation.
Mr Olatunde Akinsanya, Director of Operations and Maintenance at the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, said the initiative aligns with global best practices in emergency management.
Similarly, Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mr Sesan Ogundeko, said the platform would improve real-time information flow to responders, reduce delays and enable faster intervention during emergencies.
In his remarks, the Managing Director of SOFTSEER Ltd., Mr Iyanu Fakoya, described the project as the beginning of a new era in coordinated emergency response.
He emphasised that the system is designed to complement existing infrastructure while strengthening collaboration among agencies, ensuring that emergencies are reported, verified and addressed more efficiently.
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The highlight of the event was the formal handover of LERMS operational assets to the ministry by SOFTSEER Ltd.
The launch underscores the Lagos State Government’s commitment to leveraging technology to enhance public safety, improve emergency preparedness and build resilience in Africa’s largest city.
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