LASEMA boss cautions Lagosians on safety

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has urged Lagosians to be safety cautious as well as to demystify the negativity associated with the ‘ember’ months.

The ember-months of September to December are periods of the year said to be often characterized by major emergency/disaster such as auto crashes, fire outbreaks and other tragedies that often claim lives and properties.

Speaking in his office at the Secretariat, Alausa, the General Manager, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, (LASEMA) Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu admonished all to do things with ease within the period which is characterized with so many activities and high vehicular movement of people and goods in and out of the State.

Tiamiyu expressed the need for attitudinal change of the people, especially motorists and commuters who feel the ember months are the time to double their hustle, thereby rushing to make more money and to get to their various destination at the least possible time.

This he said often leads to major road accidents which are caused by over speeding/reckless driving, drinking of alcohol and not adhering to traffic rules.

According to him, “The ember months are just like every other month of the calendar year and as such, motorists are advised to ensure necessary safety precautions are strictly adhered to while driving. Any erring offenders caught this period will be prosecuted by the State Government.

“The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Nigerian Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and all the other Agencies that are important in the management of emergencies in the State have been put on red alert to secure and protect the lives and properties of people living and doing business in the State.”

On the cause of fire outbreak during ember months, he said it was due to air becoming dryer, thus encouraging chain reaction of fire and also not switching off of electrical appliances when not in use that sometimes result to electrical fire outbreaks in public places like markets, malls and homes. This he said was often difficult to control because of the dry season.

“Our people should adopt electrical safety measures such as always switch off electrical appliances when not in use, avoid naked wires, avoid storage of combustible substances such as (PMS) petrol and kerosene to avoid fire outbreak,” he advised.

The General Manager, however hinted that in a bid to stem occurrences of major disasters and emergencies in the State, the Agency as part of its advocacy programme will be embarking on road show to sensitize Lagosians on the Lagos State Emergency Toll Free Line 112 or 767 as well as jingles on various media platforms on emergency prevention and mitigation.

He also re-affirmed the commitment of Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode at providing necessary equipment, support as well as his Agency’s readiness in the management of emergency/disaster in the State through prompt intervention and extending its tentacles to all the nooks and crannies of the State.