By Felix Kuyinu
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, has called on the state’s government to provide adequate funding for more effective discharge of duties.
The agency headed by its Permanent Secretary, Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed this on Friday during a working visit by members of the Lagos State House of Assembly Commitee on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations to the agency’s quarters in Alausa, Ikeja.
Oke-Osanyitolu, when asked about the challenges faced by the agency disclosed that they are enormous. He said there is need for adequate funding and provision of equipment as the available ones are becoming rusty.
The Permanent Secretary said, “We have been using the equipments since 2007 and to get their parts is difficult.
“We need a lot of fund for us to function very well. Just few days ago, there was a wind disaster in Epe and we don’t have fund. We are appealing that we need more equipment and funds to take care of victims of emergency and disasters. We need support from the Lagos Assembly for funds to train our personnel.
Furthermore, the agency’s boss appealed to the state’s residents to cooperate with first responders during rescue operations to reduce casualties.
Reacting to the body’s submission, Chairman of the Assembly Committee, Honourable Rauf Age-Sulaimon, said that the body has performed creditably well in carrying out prompt response to emergency and disaster management alongside sensitization on its activities to residents.
The lawmaker told the LASEMA members that the Assembly would ensure that challenges would be given accelerated attention to ensure improved service delivery.
He advocated for more publicity for the agency in making their activities known to the public. He commended the synergy between the agency and the fire service and safety commission and called for more collaboration in attaining more creditable service delivery for residents in the state.
