LASEMA, stakeholders inaugurate committee on storage and sale of gas cylinders in Lagos.

Chinazor Megbolu |

The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other stakeholders have inaugurated a working committee on gas cylinders in a bid to safeguard lives and properties in Lagos,

The agency on Thursday said the move was geared towards developing and monitoring safety procedures of commercial storage and sales of gas cylinders in Lagos State.

In his remarks, the Director-General, LASEMA, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, noted that the committee was coming on the heels of the directives from the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, over a couple of fire incidents in the State caused by gas cylinder explosions recently.

“The gas cylinder explosions have had destructive impacts on the lives and properties of the people of the state,” he said.

Oke-Osanyintolu further explained that the inaugurated committee is made up the Lagos Environmental Protection Agency (LASEPA), Lagos State Safety Commission (LSSC) and the Lagos State Fire Service (LSFS).

According to him; “the resulting fires have been extremely challenging for the agencies and have caused great hardship at a time when the impacts of Covid-19 are already affecting economic activities.

“The committee will work with all the internal stakeholders and schedule further meetings with external parties to address this scourge”.

He also buttressed that fact sheets and information on gas safety had been prepared and were available for dissemination to media organisations, in line with the advocacy and enlightenment responsibilities of LASEMA.