Lagos marks World Disaster Reduction Day, takes advocacy to the grass roots

Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA) last week, joined the rest of the world to mark this year’s International Day for Disaster Reduction, a day set aside by the United Nations to promote a global culture of risk awareness and disaster reduction.

At the event held at the Public Service Staff Development Centre (PSSDC) Magodo, Lagos, the Commissioner for Special Duties and inter-Governmental relations, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Mrs. Adebunmi Adekanye, in a keynote address stated that the State government had chosen to join the rest of the world to celebrate this day, to plan, partner and share experiences with governments and organisations to ensure that global awareness about effective actions, policies and practices are taken to reduce exposure to disaster risk at the community level, thereby contributing to saving homes and livelihoods.

According to Oladejo, the theme for this year’s celebration “Home, Safe Home” couldn’t have been more appropriate, coming at a time when there is need to develop local initiatives for reducing the occurrence and minimising the adverse effects of disasters if the goal of sustainable development is to become a reality.

“For us in the State, this day has become a platform to encourage every individual, stakeholders and the community to take part in building more disaster resilient communities and nation” he reaffirmed.

He further noted that Lagos, in its bid to continually promote prompt response management and implementation strategy, recently held a State Emergency and Disaster Preparedness Summit for major Stakeholders in South- West Nigeria.

Earlier in his welcome address, the General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Adeshina Tiamiyu said that the Agency has made giant strides in emergency response plan by putting in place policies targeted at “Reducing the number of people affected by disaster by Year 2030 in the state.

The General Manager disclosed further that the enormous support from the State Government under the leadership of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, the collaboration of the private sector and other stakeholders in the Emergency Management services have contributed to the modest achievements recorded by the Agency in disaster management and reduction.

Highlight of the celebration was a presentation by the Guest Speaker, Dr Ruth Adio-Moses from the Institute of Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan while applauding LASEMA for raising awareness on disaster reduction, she urged all stakeholders to ensure that they desist from actions that could escalate man made disasters within communities.

She commended the effort of LASEMA in Emergency Intervention, Mitigation of Colossal disaster, Rescue Operations, Partnering in Development of Lagos State and Reduction of disaster through community Training and education.