LASEMA Clears Multiple Lagos Emergencies Over Weekend

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) handled a string of road accidents, truck breakdowns and a shop fire across the state between Friday and Sunday, restoring traffic and containing the blaze with no fatalities reported.

In a statement issued on Sunday by Permanent Secretary Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the agency detailed how its specialised teams, paramedics and heavy-duty equipment worked with partners including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASTMA, LASAMBUS and the Nigeria Police to manage the incidents and reopen affected roads.

The operations began early Friday when a containerised truck carrying a 40ft container developed a mechanical fault at Palm Avenue Bus Stop, inward Oye, blocking traffic after a distress call at 8:41am. The Eagle Team managed traffic and diverted vehicles until the Super Metro recovery unit moved the truck to a nearby lay-by. That evening, another containerised truck suffered an electrical fault at Ojuwoye Bus Stop, inward Oshodi. The Alpha Eagle Team secured the scene and, again with the Super Metro, recovered the vehicle to restore flow. A further containerised truck that broke down at Olorunshogo Bus Stop, inward Cappa, was also recovered the same evening.

On Saturday, the Tiger Squad from C3 responded at about 6:07am to a crash at Otedola, Mobil inward Berger, in which a Ford Escape SUV rammed into a moving truck from behind. The male driver and female passenger of the SUV were injured. LASEMA paramedics and LASAMBUS teams provided first aid and pre-hospital care before transferring them to the Trauma Centre. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LASTMA and police also attended, and the vehicles were later moved to Isheri Police Station. Later that evening the agency provided technical support with Hiab equipment for the safe installation of a billboard at Fagba Bus Stop, inward Iju.

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Early Sunday saw the recovery of a truck conveying interlocks that broke down at Ojuwoye. The Tiger Team then tackled a fire at Bakare Street, Ojodu Berger, that damaged three of eight shops stocked with foodstuffs and frozen foods. The blaze was attributed to an electrical surge after power restoration. Working with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, responders contained the fire, prevented it from spreading and extinguished it completely. No lives were lost.

Also on Sunday, a 40ft loaded container detached from the turntable of a Sinotruk head at Shoprite, inward Governor’s Road, falling with its flatbed and blocking a lane. Response teams secured the scene and managed traffic while a multi-agency effort involving LASEMA’s Lowbed, a private tow truck, an empty Sinotruk for transloading and a private forklift moved Peak Milk products from the container. The truck head was towed to a LASTMA yard and the flatbed recovered to a lay-by, clearing the roadway. LASTMA updates confirmed the recovery of the overturned containerised vehicle in the Alausa/Shoprite area and the restoration of normal traffic.

Oke-Osanyintolu confirmed that all operations had been completed, affected roads restored and response teams returned to base safely. He reaffirmed the agency’s readiness for prompt, professional emergency response and urged road users to obey safety rules, maintain their vehicles properly and drive with caution.

These incidents form part of LASEMA’s routine high-volume workload in Africa’s most populous city, where the agency regularly coordinates multi-agency responses to truck-related obstructions, crashes and fires. Similar operations in recent weeks and months have likewise emphasised rapid recovery of heavy vehicles and traffic restoration with minimal or no loss of life.