NAN-AE-9
Caution
By Itohan Abara-Laserian
Lagos, Dec. 22, 2016 (NAN) The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), on Thursday cautioned residents of the state to stay safe by avoiding excessive drinking, reckless driving and other illicit acts that could endanger their lives.
The General Manager of LASEMA, Mr Tiamiyu Adesina, gave the advice in a statement signed by Mr Kehinde Adebayo, Head of Public Affairs of the organisation in Lagos.
Adesina said that the advice was in line with the Dec. 26, Dec. 27 and Jan. 2, 2017 public holidays declared by the Federal Government to mark the Yuletide.
He noted that it was a common tradition for folks to visit loved ones also attending social events among others during yuletide; hence, they needed such advice.
“It is common for people to visit their loved ones; attend social events; disobey traffic rules; consume excess alcoholic products; driving vehicles that are not road-worthy.
He said that the excitement accompanying the yuletide sometimes resulted in loss of lives and property, high rates of accident and emergency reached the peak as people moved from one point to another.
“Hence the need to celebrate the festive period devoid of these acts become very essential,’’ the LASMA boos said.
He also advised parents and guardians to discourage their wards from using fireworks, which could cause serious environmental and health hazards.
“We recall that the Police Command in Lagos State outlawed the use of Fireworks, popularly known as “Biscos” and “Banger”in December 2014.
“This is due to the potential hazards associated with the use of these devices to the people and the environment.
‘’Fireworks can lead to domestic accidents such as skin burn and sometimes destruction of property through fire outbreak, “he said.
“The LASEMA Response Unit has deployed personnel and heavy duty trucks such as the Super Metro to be stationed at Anthony, to cover Ikorodu Axis and another one at Aja to cover Lekki-Epe Expressway.
“Other areas of coverage include: Ikeja, Mile 2, Badagry Expressway, Iyana Iba- LASU Road, Igando-Ikotun Axis and will extend patrol through Apapa, Orile Igamu, Ijora Badia, Ajegunle Axis and its environs.
“The essence of these patrols is to tow-off any broken down vehicle(s) causing impediment on the road and could result in accidents, loss of man-hour and gridlock.”
The general manager appealed to religious bodies, club owners and event centres to work with the state government and security agencies to monitor activities around them.
Adeshina urged that any suspicious and unusual activities during such gathering that might compromise security of lives and property should be reported.
He said that LASEMA, Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Safety Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and all other relevant agencies had been put on red alert.
Others outfits he said were the Nigeria Police, Rapid Response Squad (RRS), Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC)
Their role according to him is to secure and protect the lives and property of the people.
The general manager, however, assured that the State Emergency Call Centres 767/112 would be opened for 24hours to any distress call from all the nooks and crannies of the State. (NAN)
ITM/ERO/DUA
Edited by Emmanuel Okara/Dada Ahmed