The Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde, says the state’s vision for emergency management is shifting from being reactive to becoming preventive.
Oyerinde stated this on Saturday at the ongoing National State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) Conference 2025 in Lagos.
He said the focus was to identify risks early and prevent avoidable disasters rather than continually responding to emergencies.
“We don’t want to continually be in a cycle of emergencies. The next stage is to identify risks early and prevent untold incidents,” Oyerinde said.
“Emergency management must start from the grassroots. It is not about massive resources but about showing capacity and engaging communities from the local level upward.”
The National SEMA Conference, which began on October 2 and ends October 4, brought together emergency management stakeholders from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) to chart a coordinated framework for disaster preparedness and resilience across Nigeria.
The conference, themed “Strengthening Sub-national Emergency Management for a Resilient Nigeria,” featured discussions on building local capacity and improving coordination between national and subnational agencies.
Oyerinde expressed appreciation to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for enabling Lagos to host the landmark event.
“Hosting the National SEMA Conference in Lagos has been an awesome learning experience,” he said.
“The second day focused on practical demonstrations of emergency response, giving other states the opportunity to learn from the Lagos model.
“We want to assure residents of our readiness to be preventive rather than reactive, and this commitment is inspired by Mr. Governor’s unwavering dedication to safety.”
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, commended the governor and the political leadership of the state for their consistent support.
“We give kudos to Mr. Governor for his political will and ownership of the emergency management agenda,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
“Special appreciation also goes to the Commissioner for Special Duties for providing the political umbrella under which we operate.
“Most importantly, I salute our first responders, who work tirelessly, often risking their lives to safeguard others. Their dedication is the true backbone of our emergency system.”
He added that Lagos was not only protecting its residents but also sharing its expertise with other states.
“Nigeria can now see Lagos sharing its journey from small beginnings to today’s robust system. This spirit of collaboration will strengthen resilience nationwide,” he said.
As part of the conference, the Lagos State Government conducted a practical demonstration of its search, rescue, and recovery operations at the LASEMA Relief Centre in Igando.
The maiden national conference featured hands-on emergency drills, including rescue operations and disaster simulations, designed to enhance inter-agency collaboration and share lessons with other states.
Jointly organized by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and LASEMA, the conference emphasized grassroots preparedness, risk reduction, and proactive strategies as key elements of a unified national approach to emergency management.
