Determined to demonstrate how it uses tax payers money to save the lives and properties of Lagosians, the Lagos State Government will on Sunday October 3, this year launch a prime television programme titled ‘Safe Lagos’.
The programme, to be aired on the Lagos Television channel, will present real life experience of the first responders in recue situations beginning from the moment of distress call to evacuation and quick solutions.
It will showcase the activities of the Lagos State Emergences Services Agency, LASEMA; State Fire Service and Lagos State Ambulance Services, LASAMBUS.
The programme is funded by the Ministry of Special Duties & Inter-Governmental Relations under the leadership of Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, the Honourable Commissioner.
General Manager of the project consultants Pointclear Films, Idris Kasumu, told ECHONEWS that hands are on deck to ensure clean, concise and audible production.
“The Lagos State government is well-known for justifying its tax drive with people-oriented projects and programmes. This television series captures in dramatic reality the use of men and materials to save the lives and property of the tax payers,” he said.
Expected to run for 13 weeks in the first instance, the programme managers believe it will be constant in the air and may be extended to other stations for viewing.
As part of preparations for take-off, the consultants are meeting with the heads of the agencies and the Ministry of Special Duties to ensure smooth production and deadlines.
Kasumi said reporters and cameramen will be embedded in each of the agencies to understand their operational format and assimilate their performance culture.
His words: Our crew will be embedded in each agency and will cover the distress calls, the roll-out to the scene, evaluation and restoration to normalcy.They will be well-kitted and trained to adjust to the working environment. This is reality television show where the action will speak better than the words.”
Explaining the timing of the programme at 9pm on Sundays, Kasumu said accidents often involve gory scenes which may not be good for young children.
“By television programming standards, programmes such as these which may entail disturbing visuals are shown when children are meant to have gone to bed.
“At the same time, adults are expected to be in the mood for entertainment after a busy day. The timing is very critical to the target audience and viewership. The more people watch the programme, the more they will appreciate the enormous resources deployed by the Lagos Stare government to rescue properties and protect lives in case of fire disasters and vehicular crashes,” Kasumi said.
The Lagos State Emergency Services Agency is headed by Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.
The pioneer Doctor of Ifako Primary Health Care centre in Lagos State, he was involved in the rake-off of the Lagos State Emergency Services and first to head the Lagos State Ambulance Services.
Under his leadership, the agency, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) won the Best and Most Proactive Emergency Management Agency in Nigeria in 2010.
He is known to have managed the State response during Ebola outbreak in Lagos State and Emergency Response to the Bomb blast disaster that occurred in Lagos State in 2002.
