Security
THE Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has collaborated with the Police and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on disaster management and first responder to emergencies in Lagos State.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that a Two-Day Emergency Response Workshop with theme: “Improving Emergency Preparedness and Response to Disaster in a Dynamic Mega City” was organised by the Lagos State FRSC Sector Command on Thursday.
Mr Peter Kibo, the FRSC Zonal Commanding Officer in Charge of Ogun and Lagos State, while delivering his remarks, said that the workshop was meant to fortify the personnel against future disasters and emergencies.
According to him, the training will prepare the officers for the vital tasks ahead of them in the future.
“The main role of FRSC is to reduce traffic and fatality and a timely response to any disaster is important.
“It is also very important to understand the world standard of response to emergency, that’s, the world accepted time for response to disaster or emergency as the case may be.
“This workshop will enlighten us more on actual time of response during emergency.
“And it will teach us what to do when we get to the emergency scene because many victims have died as result of delay in response and lack of understanding on getting to the scene,” the zonal commander said.
Also, Mr Olusegun Ogungbemide, the Lagos State Sector Commander, FRSC, said that the corps was guarded by its strategic goals to ensure safety on the road.
Ogungbemide said that the two-day workshop would enlighten the personnel more on how to manage crash disaster.
“We have a major role to play to fortify ourselves against any emergency because expectation is so high from the victims during emergency.
“So, our responsibility is to prepare our personnel for the task ahead to prevent crashes and fatality,” he said.
Mr Hakeem Odumosu, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police , in his remarks said the police major duty was to protect lives and properties of its citizens.
Odumosu, who was represented by CSP Elizabeth Opadola, the Commander- in -Charge, Disaster Management Unit, Lagos State Police Command, said that police were taking part in the workshop to synergise with the FRSC to achieve positive result during emergency.
“During emergency, we have lots of challenges from the crowd and other challenges from the community where people react and over react to the situations.
“We are here and always available to respond to any emergency from the public and that’s why we are collaborating with FRSC and NEMA for prompt response to emergency within the state,” Opadola said.
Mrs Ronke Odeneye, the Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Ministry of Environment , in her speech said that there were occurrences all over the world but response time differed.
Odeneye, represented by Dr Hassan Sanuth, said that Lagos State, being the most populous state in the country and fastest growing in Africa with small land size, needs prompt response to emergencies whenever they occur.
According to her, with small land size and great population, there is no way Lagos can be exonerated from risk and disaster.
“This type of workshop is essential to develop human capacity to meet reality of the state, as nothing less than 8,000 people enter Lagos on daily basis to attend to business activities,” she said.
Also, Mr Ibrahim Farinloye, the Acting Coordinator of NEMA, Lagos State Office, in his goodwill message said the training would boost the capacity of the personnel in emergency management.
Farinloye said that other stakeholders should be involved in the training to reduce the number of casualties during disaster.
“he training is very important, though level of response to emergency in the country has been encouraging and perfect.
“The number of casualties is now very minimal, as no casualty recorded in most of fire disaster in this year,(2021) though we face challenges of crowded environment when emergency occurs.
“But our main challenge is that of the elite motorists who refused to give way to our sirens while we are responding to emergency.
“The commercial buses always cooperate and give way but the elite will be adamant to give way to our emergency team while going on safety mission,” he said.
NAN reports that 120 personnel participated in the two-day workshop organised by the FRSC Lagos Sector Command to curb fatality during emergencies in the state.
NAN
Feb. 25, 2021 @ 18:45 GMT
Tags: disaster management Emergencies: FRSC NEMA collaborate on first responder police
