Ekiti Seeks Partnership with LASEMA on Disaster Mgt

Gbenga Sodeinde in Ado Ekiti

Ekiti State Government is set to collaborate with Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) to bolster security measures and fortify disaster management strategies.

Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, disclosed this during a working visit to LASEMA headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, at the weekend.

The governor restated the resolve of his administration to safeguard the lives and property of its citizens while fostering a secure and conducive environment for their daily endeavors.

Accompanied by the state Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, Governor Oyebanji was received by the Director-General of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who took him on a tour of the agency’s facilities.

Oke-Osanyintolu explained the pivotal roles played by various units within the Emergency Operation Centre, stressing the significance of digitisation in streamlining emergency information and coordination processes, often in collaboration with private entities.

“For the state governor to be here to partner us at LASEMA speaks volume. This is the kind of commitment you expect from a good leader who is ready to secure the lives and property of his people. We are ready to address all the security challenges and emergency issues. We will partner Ekiti State fully and efficiently. We will share information and build capacity,” he said.

Furthermore, Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu highlighted some potential areas of improvement for Ekiti State in emergency and disaster management, including fire services, environmental stewardship, rapid response initiatives, and ambulance services.

He emphasised the critical need for adequate funding and streamlined bureaucratic processes in optimising emergency response mechanisms.

Expressing his satisfaction with the LASEMA team and their operational strategies, Governor Oyebanji expressed his readiness to adopt Lagos digitisation approach to address security and emergency challenges within Ekiti State.

He said: “I swore to defend the Ekiti people,; they elected me to do certain things for them. Most states are grappling with security and emergency issues. We have gotten to a point where we have to secure our territory because security is very key.

“As a state, we have a structure on ground but I have come to LASEMA to see for myself and seek collaboration with LASEMA, which have walked the path and made their own mistakes, but they are now doing well, however, for us, we don’t have the financial resources that Lagos has and we cannot afford to make too many faulty steps.”