Director General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mrs. Zubaida Umar, led a delegation to Lagos State following the recent fire incident at Dosumu market. The purpose of the visit was to engage with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on enhancing collaboration for effective disaster management in the state.
During a courtesy meeting with Governor Sanwo-Olu, Mrs. Umar expressed sympathy to the government and people of Lagos State, particularly those impacted by the fire. She reiterated NEMA’s commitment to supporting the affected communities. Emphasizing the importance of insurance coverage for businesses to mitigate losses from such disasters, Mrs. Umar stressed the significance of risk awareness and safety advocacy among traders to prevent avoidable incidents like market fires.
Acknowledging Governor Sanwo-Olu’s dedication to disaster management, Mrs. Umar commended the state’s proactive efforts in addressing emergencies. In response, Governor Sanwo-Olu appreciated NEMA’s swift response to the fire incident and expressed gratitude for their support.
Governor Sanwo-Olu highlighted the challenges faced during the response efforts, citing access limitations and the presence of combustible materials in the market. He informed that decisions were made to demolish affected structures to facilitate better access for responders. Furthermore, he welcomed any assistance from NEMA in assessing damages and aiding affected individuals.
Regarding ongoing sensitization efforts, Governor Sanwo-Olu stressed the importance of sustained risk awareness campaigns to mitigate future disasters through advocacy across various platforms.
Accompanying Mrs. Umar were key officials from NEMA, including Director Search and Rescue Air Commodore Kennedy R. Matalowu, Director Planning Research and Forecasting Dr. Ominode Bandele Abdullahi, Special Assistant to the DG Mr. Idris Abubakar Mohammed, Ag Director South West Mr. Stephen Adewale, Head NEMA Lagos Territorial Office Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, and Chief Search and Rescue Officer Mr. Atabo Daniel.
Following the meeting with the Governor, the NEMA delegation, led by state officials, conducted a physical assessment of the market site. Commissioner of Special Duties Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde and Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) Dr. Osayintulo Femi-Oke accompanied Mrs. Umar during the inspection. Subsequently, Mrs. Umar visited LASEMA offices and facilities, as well as the NEMA Lagos Territorial/South West zonal office in Ikeja.
