LASEMA handles 18 major emergencies in one week, records no deaths

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has announced that it successfully handled 18 major emergencies across different parts of the state within a one-week period without recording any loss of life.

In a statement issued on Sunday by the agency’s spokesperson, Afolabi Olawale, the incidents occurred between June 14 and June 21 and included road accidents, fire outbreaks, tanker-related emergencies, container truck mishaps and infrastructure failures.

Emergency teams were deployed to several locations, including Obanikoro, Maryland, Okota, Mushin, Marina, Otedola, Ikeja Underbridge and sections of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

According to the agency, 17 of the incidents ended without fatalities. The only casualty risk involved a victim trapped beneath a 40-foot container at Maryland Roundabout on June 18. The individual was rescued alive, stabilised by emergency personnel and taken to hospital for further treatment.

The statement said: “LASEMA has reaffirmed its position as West Africa’s benchmark for urban emergency coordination following the successful management of 18 high-risk incidents across the state between Friday, June 14 and Saturday, June 21, 2026.

“No loss of life was recorded in 17 of the 18 incidents. One victim trapped in a 40-ft container accident at Maryland Roundabout on June 18 was extricated alive, stabilised by LRU paramedics and transferred to Gbagada Orthopaedic Hospital for advanced care.”

LASEMA said its specialised Cobra, Eagle, Sharks and Lagos Response Team units worked alongside the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, the Nigeria Police Force, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASAMBUS, the National Emergency Management Agency and community stakeholders during the operations.

Among the incidents recorded during the period was a fire at the premises of COPACI Nigeria Limited in Okota on June 15. Emergency responders contained the blaze before it could spread to nearby warehouses.

Another fire involving a Mercedes-Benz vehicle at the premises of Polaris Bank in Marina was also brought under control through a coordinated multi-agency response.

The agency further disclosed that heavy-duty recovery equipment and cranes were deployed to remove obstructions and restore traffic flow along major routes, including the Challenge-Mushin corridor, Obanikoro-Maryland axis, Otedola Bridge and the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.

Commenting on the outcome, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency’s performance reflected years of investment in emergency preparedness and response capacity by the state government.

“The consistency of zero-fatality outcomes across high-risk incidents in one week is not accidental. It is the product of deliberate investment in standards, training and equipment under Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ Agenda,” he said.

He added that all emergency operations were conducted in line with internationally recognised response standards.

LASEMA urged residents to report emergencies promptly through its toll-free lines and advised motorists to maintain their vehicles properly and obey traffic regulations.

The agency also pledged to continue working with relevant authorities to address recurring causes of emergencies, including deteriorating infrastructure and damaged road sections.