Lagos to Host National SEMA Conference 2025, Showcases Emergency Preparedness

 

By Kayode Olopade 

The Lagos State Government, in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), will host the National State Emergency Management Agencies (SEMA) Conference 2025 from October 2 to 4 in Lagos.

Themed “Strengthening Subnational Emergency Management for a Resilient Nigeria,” the three-day event will convene emergency managers, policymakers, security institutions, development partners, private sector stakeholders, and civil society representatives from across the country.

Speaking at a press briefing in Alausa on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, said the conference is designed to showcase best practices in disaster preparedness and foster stronger collaboration between national and subnational responders.

According to him, the opening session will hold on October 2 at the Bamboula Convention Center, while October 3 and 4 will feature a live multi-agency simulation exercise at the Lagos State Emergency and Resilience Center in Igbodu. The exercise will demonstrate coordinated responses to complex disaster scenarios, highlighting Nigeria’s growing capacity to manage emergencies.

Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu underscored Lagos’ leadership role in emergency management, disclosing that the state has handled over 1,450 incidents in the first eight months of 2025 alone. These include fire outbreaks, building collapses, road and rail accidents, hazardous material spills, and large-scale medical emergencies.

He noted that since 2008, Lagos has successfully managed more than 4,600 road crashes and 2,400 fire incidents, with improved survival rates in casualty management and child rescue operations. He attributed this progress to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s sustained investment in emergency infrastructure, training, and planning.

“Today, Lagos boasts ultra-modern fire stations, strategically deployed ambulances, a digitized emergency call center, and a functional command-and-control system. These efforts have cut down our average response time to less than ten minutes,” the Permanent Secretary said.

He further appealed to residents to remain calm in the face of emergencies, assuring them of government’s capacity to respond swiftly and effectively. He also reminded the public to make use of the state’s 24-hour hotlines 767 and 112 in times of distress.

The National SEMA Conference 2025, observers say, is expected to set new benchmarks for coordinated disaster management in Nigeria while reinforcing Lagos’ reputation as a model for other states in emergency preparedness.