By Florence Onuegbu
Lagos – The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) on Sunday carried out a simulation of an accident scene, to quicken emergency response.
The simulation, which was conducted together with other emergency response agencies, took place on the 3rd Mainland Bridge, opposite the Unilag Waterfront, inward Lagos Island.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the exercise involved the simulation of a scene of multiple road accidents involving a luxury bus and five other vehicles, one of which plunged into the Lagos Lagoon.
Addressing newsmen after the exercise, the General Manager of LASEMA, Mr Tiamiyu Adeshina said that the simulation was code named “Operation Oko Jasosa”, meaning “Vehicle Plunges into the Lagoon”
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Adeshina said that the simulation process was the display of synergy that existed among all those involved in responding to emergency situations.
He said that the exercise was intended to strengthen synergy, foster collaboration and improve the level of preparedness of agencies charged with emergency response.
According to him, the exercise is to enhance the response capability of relevant stakeholders in the management of multiple casualty incidents.
“The essence of this exercise is as a result of our experience in this field. If you remember, last year, there was an accident on this bridge, necessitating one of the vehicles plunging into the lagoon and killing two of its occupants.
“We knew the challenges we faced retrieving the vehicle off the water. What we have done today is to recreate a situation like that and what we should do when it happens.
“There is nothing to panic about, this simulation exercise is deliberately planned to prepare our men, that is, all emergency responders, for a situation like this.
“After this exercise, LASEMA and other stakeholders involved in this simulation process will go back to the drawing board to reappraise our performances, evaluate the entire rescue operation and design a better way to handle this type of scenario whenever it happens.
“It is part of the proactive measures we decided to carry out so that we won’t start learning how to combat real accident scenes when precious lives would be involved,” he said.
The general manager said that the synergy among the response team was perfect, as the equipment and professional skills of the rescuers had been put to test.
He said that throughout the period of the rescue operation, there was adequate traffic control on the bridge.
Tiamiyu reassured residents of Lagos that wherever they are and at whatever time of the day, LASEMA with the support of other relevant stakeholders would do all within its power to make sure that they are safe.
He said that the simulation exercise that was concluded within an hour on the 3rd Mainland Bridge was a result of meticulous paper work, planning and several roundtables that lasted for over four months.
The general manager urged residents of the state to always remember the free-toll emergency lines of 767 and 112.
“Don’t leave anything to chance, take advantage of these free lines and activate the call immediately an emergency is perceived, so that swift assistance can come and the degree of injuries or casualities will be very minimal,” he said.
In his remarks, Mr Seye Oladejo, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, said that the simulation was a way of reassuring investors and entire residents of Lagos of the preparedness of the State emergency team to respond to emergency situations.
Oladejo, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Jemilade Longe, said that the exercise showed the capability of the various emergency responders in the state.
He said that the exercise should further convince the residents beyond mere promises, adding that the state government placed high premium on protection of lives and property.
According to him, Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode has made a commitment to deploy a sizable chunk of the resources of the state towards protecting citizens and foreigners in the state.
“Disasters and accidents are things that you cannot predict.
“But for our investors, what the state government is saying is that if for whatever reason there is an accident, they should rest assured that we have skilled officials, the needed synergy and equipment to combat and surmount such situations.
“The implication of this is that our people can now go to sleep without any fear, because there is a government that cares for them,” the commissioner said.
NAN also reports that the exercise involved men of the LASEMA Response Unit (LRU), Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS) and the State Environmental Health and Monitoring Unit (SEHMU ).
The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA), Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps (LNSC) and Lagos State Waterway Authority (LASWA) also took part in the exercise.
Others present include the Rapid Response Squard (RRS), Marine Police National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Nigerian Security & Civil Defence Corps and Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC).