Sanwo-Olu disaster preparedness leadership highlights Lagos’ proactive role as states unite at national emergency conference to build resilience across Nigeria
Sanwo-Olu disaster preparedness leadership was spotlighted on Thursday as the Lagos State Governor reaffirmed the state’s role in driving coordinated emergency response efforts across Nigeria.
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Speaking through Deputy Governor Dr Obafemi Hamzat at the maiden National State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) Conference in Lagos, Governor Sanwo-Olu declared that no single state can manage modern disasters in isolation.
Held at the Balmoral Convention Centre in Ikeja, the conference — themed “Strengthening Sub-National Emergency Management for a Resilient Nigeria” — brought together policymakers, first responders, and safety stakeholders from across the country.
“Every state in Nigeria faces its own unique risks — from floods and fires to industrial accidents and epidemics. Disasters do not respect borders,” Sanwo-Olu said. “Our shared readiness is the true strength of this nation.”
The governor highlighted Lagos’s critical investments through the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), including the Emergency Response Rescue Unit (LRU), an upgraded call centre, and a mobile app designed to accelerate response times and coordination.
The Sanwo-Olu disaster preparedness leadership message underscored the need for deeper integration of disaster risk reduction in governance and stronger citizen awareness.
“We must continue to integrate risk reduction into governance, adopt emerging technologies, and empower citizens with the knowledge to act in times of crisis,” Sanwo-Olu said.
Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, praised the conference as a critical step in uniting sub-national actors under one purpose — protecting lives and livelihoods.
Director-General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Zubaida Umar, expressed NEMA’s commitment to stronger collaboration with state agencies, stressing that decentralised preparedness was key to saving lives.
In his keynote titled “From Risk to Readiness”, former Lagos Health Commissioner Dr Leke Pitan retraced the establishment of LASEMBUS, the city’s ambulance system, which now stations emergency vehicles strategically across Lagos to improve rapid response.
Meanwhile, Sanwo-Olu will lead dignitaries at the upcoming Lagos State Occupational Safety and Health (LASOSH) Conference 2025, scheduled for 7 October 2025 at Victoria Island. Themed “Occupational Safety and Health as a Catalyst for Nation Building”, the event is organised by the Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC).
LSSC Director-General Mr Lanre Mojola described LASOSH 2025 as a transformative forum aimed at embedding a culture of safety in Lagos’s rapid industrial and urban development journey.
“This is about protecting lives, preserving dignity, and powering Lagos’s growth story,” Mojola said. He added that the conference would address pressing issues such as building collapses, transport-related hazards, and safety risks in informal sectors.
A keynote address titled “OSH as the Cornerstone of Sustainable Nation Building” will be delivered by Dr Olasupo Olusi, Managing Director of the Bank of Industry (BOI).
The session will explore how public–private partnerships and access to industrial finance can help improve national safety and economic competitiveness.
The Sanwo-Olu disaster preparedness leadership and the upcoming LASOSH 2025 summit both reinforce Lagos’s vision of becoming Africa’s model megacity — safe, secure, and resilient in the face of complex risks.
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As Sanwo-Olu rightly noted, “Emergencies test not just our systems, but our shared humanity. Only through unity, preparedness, and innovation can we truly build a resilient Nigeria.”
