Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo, said the Lagos State Government has announced plans to commence removal of all abandoned vehicles on roads to complement emergency recovery efforts and prevent mishaps on streets and major highways in the State.

He said this during the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing to commemorate the third year anniversary of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa.

He said the move was aimed at further addressing traffic decongestion and averting security challenges associated with abandoned vehicles.

Already, Oladejo said the Governor has approved the creation of Vehicle Recovery Unit to solely see to the removal of abandoned and accident vehicles on the roads which would be under the Ministry of Special Duties, adding that plans were being firmed up for the take-off of the unit soon.

Speaking further, the Commissioner said as part of efforts to improve the functionality of Fire Service Department and to efficiently manage disasters, the Governor has also approved the recruitment of additional 150 fire fighters who would join the newly inducted 100, while 70 ad-hoc staff of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) had already been absorbed into the State civil service.

Besides, the commissioner said within the last one year, two new fire stations were established in Bolade-Oshodi and Abesan, while approval had been granted for creation of four stations to be located in Safety Arena, Eredo-Epe, Olorunda-Badagry and ijegun-Satelite Town.

In addition, Oladejo said the fire stations in Alausa, Ikeja, Isolo, Agege, Ilupeju, Badagry-Suru, Ikotun and Agege were upgraded to further guarantee prompt response to fire and other distress calls, adding that all the stations totalling 16 were not only fully operational, but strategically situated to provide swift and effective services to people across the State.

Giving a breakdown of fire incidents in the last one year in the State, Oladejo said within the period under review, the Department of State Fire Service salvaged property worth N76.9billion from destruction, while it received a total of 1,282 emergency calls, with 980 fire calls, 202 rescue calls and 83 false calls, adding that despite the sizeable number of incidents recorded, the State Government was able to respond promptly to the emergencies thereby saving lots of lives and properties.

On efforts by LASEMA to scale up emergency response, Oladejo said the agency which had just one Response Unit in Alausabefore the advent of the present Administration, now has three centres inCappaOshodi, Lekki and Onipanu, with further plans to establish additional three upgraded Dispatch Centres inIjanikinclose to Badagry, Temu Junction, Epeand LASPOTECH inIkorodu, as well as a fourth conventional LRU at Costain to cover Apapa Axis and its environs.

He said while the Lekki Response Unit was strategically located to facilitate quick response to emergencies on the waterways and for proximity to riverine areas of Lekki and environs, the State Government recently delivered a new ultra-modern LASEMA Response Unit (LRU), strategically located along Ikorodu Road, a central location within the Lagos Mainland.

He added that in furtherance to the need to provide proper extrication equipment for timely rescue of trapped victims in any form of life-threatening emergencies, LASEMA in February, 2018, procured Light Rescue Equipment, which included Hydraulic rescue equipment, Power Unit attached with Spreader, Rescue Ram, Cutters Combi Tools, and Concrete Cutters, 14 BMW Power Bikes have also been launched which are usually deployed at making on-spot reconnaissance assessments of incidents with a view to unambiguously determine the type and quantities of equipment to be deployed for a given incident, as well as serve to improve monitoring and surveillance