The Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, on Friday paid a courtesy visit to the Lagos State Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA) to seek collaboration and strengthen institutional partnership on disaster management and environmental resilience.

Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu and his delegation were received by the General Manager of LASEPA, Dr. Tunde Ajayi, at the agency’s headquarters in Alausa, Ikeja.

In his address, Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu praised LASEPA’s leadership and described the agency as “very unique” in its operational structure and impact. He commended Dr. Ajayi’s expertise, referring to him as “Mr. Phenomenon,” and acknowledged his dual credentials as a medical doctor and a disaster management expert.

The Permanent Secretary noted that Lagos State is fully prepared for any emergency, citing existing infrastructure such as a robust command-and-control center, upgraded emergency response models, and simulation exercises. He identified flood-prone areas such as Lekki, lkorodu Amuwo-Odofin ,and Alimosho, stressing the need for joint efforts to mitigate risks in vulnerable communities.

Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu emphasized that environmental mismanagement is a leading cause of disasters and acknowledged LASEPA’s contributions in regulating and protecting the State’s environment.

In his response, Dr. Tunde Ajayi appreciated the visit and reiterated LASEPA’s readiness to collaborate closely with LASEMA.

He noted that effective disaster management must be multi-sectoral and community-driven. According to him, LASEPA is committed to increasing public awareness, enforcing environmental laws, and ensuring communities remain safe from pollution, poor waste management, sanitation and ineffective drainage system

Also present at the meeting was a delegation from the Ondo State Emergency Management Agency, led by the Special Adviser to the Governor on Emergency Response, Hon. Wellington Adebanwo, who commended Lagos State’s proactive approach and expressed interest in adopting similar strategies in Ondo State.