Korede Abdullah 
LAGOS, Nigeria – The Lagos State Government has urged residents and business owners to avoid storing inflammable materials in homes, shops, and public spaces during the festive season to prevent fires and hazardous incidents.
Speaking at a stakeholders’ consultative meeting on Tuesday, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, emphasised the need for vigilance and cooperation to ensure public safety during the Yuletide.
“We appeal to residents to remain vigilant. In case of any emergency, please report immediately. When you see something, say something,” he said.
Oke-Osanyintolu warned that careless storage of petrol, diesel, gas cylinders, fireworks, and other inflammables significantly increases the risk of fires during the harmattan season.
“Residents should not store inflammable items in homes or business premises. Safety and disaster management are everyone’s responsibility,” he stressed.
He assured that emergency response teams have been strategically deployed across the state to ensure rapid response.
“Our responders are ready to manage emergencies at any hour, but we need citizens’ cooperation to prevent avoidable incidents.”
The meeting also highlighted plans to establish the Institute of Disaster Management and Migration Studies, which will train responders and strengthen research on urban risk management.
“Response alone is no longer enough. We must build capacity ahead of emergencies,” Oke-Osanyintolu noted. He added that the institute would serve as a regional knowledge hub for West Africa.
About the Author
Oluwatobi Adu 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Koko Maxwella 