LASEMA HOLDS TWO-DAY RETREAT TO BOOST STAFF MENTAL HEALTH, DISASTER MANAGEMENT CAPACITY

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By: Sefiu Ajape

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has organised a two-day retreat on mental health management for its senior staff as part of efforts to “enhance their capacity for disaster management.”

The retreat, held at Pearlwort Hotel, Ikeja, on Saturday, aimed at “strengthening and enhancing the staff’s capacity in disaster prevention and management ahead of the new year.”

Speaking at the event, LASEMA Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the nature of emergency management exposes responders to mental health challenges, making it necessary to “take time out to relax, refresh, and improve productivity.”

Oke-Osanyintolu noted that the training reflects the resolve of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to strengthen emergency management, adding that the commitment “had led to a decline in emergencies across the state.”

He said, “If you look at our government holistically, we have tackled a lot of emergencies, and we are always on top of these emergencies. We are able to remain in charge because we have viable emergency responders who work as a team to ensure the safety of lives and property.

“Today, we are saying thank you to these emergency responders and also telling them that it is time to rekindle our efforts.”

The permanent secretary urged responders to prioritise their mental well-being, saying, “We have discovered that there are mental health challenges these days which our workforce is not immune to, so we have to enlighten them on how they can reorient themselves and prevent mental health issues, because they are prone to them as emergency responders.”

Also speaking, Sesan Ogundeko, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, commended LASEMA for its proactiveness in responding to emergencies and expressed optimism that the training “would enhance the capacity of responders and ensure improved disaster management and mitigation.”

Olawale Age-Sulaiman, Chairman, House Committee on Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, said lawmakers “would continue to monitor the activities of LASEMA to ensure the agency does not deviate from its role as the state’s emergency coordinator” and pledged the Assembly’s support to ensure disaster management “does not lag.”

Highlights of the retreat included sessions on teamwork, stress management, and coping with economic challenges in a changing environment.

It was reported that the yearly emergency report released by LASEMA showed a decline in disasters and emergencies in Lagos in 2025 compared to 2024.