Oyebanji meets LASEMA, seeks partnership on disaster management

By Molade Adegbuyi

The visit of Ekiti State Governor Abiodun Oyebanji to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has paid off.

Ekiti will now partner with Lagos State Government to bolster security measures and fortify disaster management strategies.

Oyebanji disclosed this during a working visit to LASEMA Headquarters in Ikeja, Lagos, at the weekend.

A statement signed by Special Adviser (Media) Yinka Oyebode made available to Irohinoodua said the Governor restated the resolve of his administration to safeguard the lives and properties of its citizens while fostering a secure and conducive environment for their daily endeavors.

Accompanied by the State Commissioner of Finance, Mr. Akintunde Oyebode, Governor Oyebanji was received by the Director-General of LASEMA, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, who took him on a tour of the agency’s facilities. Ironically, Oke-Osanyintolu is from Ido-Ekiti in Ido-Osi Local Government area

Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu explained the pivotal roles played by various units within the Emergency Operation Center, stressing the significance of digitization in streamlining emergency information and coordination processes, often in collaboration with private entities.

“For the state Governor to be here to Partner with us at LASEMA speaks volume. This is the kind of commitment you expect from a good leader who is ready to secure lives and properties of his people. We are ready to address all the security challenges and emergency issues. We will partner with Ekiti fully, efficiently and effectively. We will share information and build capacity”, the LASEMA boss said.

Furthermore, Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu highlighted potential areas of improvement for Ekiti State in emergency and disaster management, including fire services, environmental stewardship, rapid response initiatives, and ambulance services. He emphasized the critical need for adequate funding and streamlined bureaucratic processes in optimizing emergency response mechanisms.

Expressing his satisfaction with the LASEMA team and their operational strategies, Governor Oyebanji expressed his readiness to adopt and adapt Lagos’ digitization approach to address security and emergency challenges within Ekiti State.

“I swore to defend ekiti people, they elected me to do certain things for them. Most states are grappling with security and emergency issues We have gotten to a point where we have to secure our territory because security is very key.

“As a state, we have a structure on ground but I have come to LASEMA here today to see for myself and seek collaboration with LASEMA who have walked the path and made their own mistakes but they are now doing well, for us, we don’t have the financial resources that Lagos has and we cannot afford to make too many faulty steps.

“We have discussed and the collaboration will start immediately. I am assuring Ekiti people that they are in for the best. I am excited and I must thank Lagos state for giving our Son, Dr Oke-Osanyintolu this platform to serve.”, the Governor added.