Lagos Emergency simulation exercise showcases capacity

In an effort to reflect the renewed focus and commitment of Lagos State government to reducing fatalities and tragedies, the state’s emergency service staged a simulation exercise to showcase its operational capacity to speedily respond to distress calls from any part of the state.

The planning and efficiency drill took place at the Lekki Toll Gate recently.

According to a statement from the government, the aim was to improve the response times of the various agencies in the state emergency service and help fine-tune necessary procedures that will enhance efficiency towards making a remarkable difference in actual life and death situations.

Ibraheem Sobbola, an emergency and disaster management analyst, said “Although such an exercise could result in disruptions and cause delays to commuters, it is however important that we should remember that the inconveniences that come with emergency drills constitute our investments towards the improvement of emergency services and a higher standard of service delivery to the people of the state by the different agencies, and the government.”

Specifically, the current administration led by Akinwunmi Ambode has repositioned emergency services as a priority activity and is determined to ensure that response times to emergencies are kept to an absolute minimum because lives of all Lagosians and visitors to the state are invaluable.

With this renewed orientation, the statement from the government noted that “the strength of the state is its people, and that the government will spare no expense or effort in safeguarding the lives all Lagosians and visitors to the state. Therefore, the state government will continually upgrade and improve emergency services in the state, both in terms of the purchase and use of effective and vital equipment in disaster situations, as well as building capacity in emergency services personnel through training and retraining”.

The last Thursday simulation exercise involved an accident between a tanker and a car, with two casualties trapped inside the car. A multi-agency rescue operation was activated and the casualties trapped in the car were successfully extracted and transported by air and road for urgent and detailed care.

Lagos is rapidly responding to its megacity status and embarking on transformation initiatives that will reposition the state amongst the leading cities in the world. Over the past one year, the state government has demonstrated increased commitment to the safety and wellbeing of the people by revamping the state emergency service, augmenting the transport system and sustaining attention on security issues.

The government is unwavering in its resolve to collaborate with stakeholders in implementing initiatives that will leapfrog the state to its rightful position in the league of megacities and speedily position it for the associated benefits of the coveted megacity status.