Korede Abdullah in Lagos
The Lagos State Branch of the Nigerian Red Cross Society, in partnership with key agencies, has conducted a large-scale flood simulation exercise in Agboyi 1 Community, Lagos, under the Italian Government-funded Flood Resilience Project.
The exercise featured early warning broadcasts, evacuation drills, boat-led rescue operations, triage, first aid response, and temporary shelter setup, with over 200 participants, including community members and emergency responders.
According to Mrs. Ibitayo Adenike, who represented the Lagos Head of Operations for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) on Saturday, “timely warnings remain critical in saving lives during disasters,” as she commended the synergy among participating agencies.
Speaking on the significance of the event, the Lagos Red Cross Chairman, Dr. Adebola Kolawole, praised the commitment of all responders, stressing that training and coordination are key to reducing disaster impacts.
“The simulation was not only a success but also a valuable opportunity for learning, deepening understanding, and strengthening collaboration among agencies in responding to emergencies in Lagos,” Kolawole said.
The exercise saw the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) act as incident commander, while the Nigerian Navy provided security support and underwater search missions for simulated flood victims.
The drill also highlighted seamless inter-agency collaboration, as the Red Cross, LASEMA, and NEMA led search and rescue efforts while the NSCDC, Navy, NEMA, and Police handled crowd control and security.
More than a dozen operational vehicles and four ambulances were deployed, with extensive media coverage amplifying the message of disaster preparedness.
The exercise concluded with a Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) session, where residents were taught essential health practices to adopt during flood emergencies.
