Lagos Govt Trains 1,125 Students in Emergency Response

No fewer than 1,125 students of State Junior High School, Agege, have been trained on emergency response procedures, including how to seek help by dialling Lagos State’s toll-free emergency numbers, 767 and 112.

The training, organised by the Lagos State Command and Control Centre, was held on the school premises on Monday as part of efforts to promote disaster risk reduction and emergency preparedness among young people.

Newsmen gathered that the awareness campaign, targeted at public secondary schools, focused on educating students on safety practices, proper use of emergency lines, and their role in enhancing community safety.

The initiative also covered basic disaster risk awareness and response procedures, with the aim of equipping students with practical knowledge to act during emergencies.

Speaking at the event, the Director of Administration and Human Resources at the LSCCC, Adeeso Adeyinka, said the programme was designed to empower students to serve as information channels within their communities.

She said, “It is important for students to understand emergencies because they are often localised.

 When young people are informed, they pass the knowledge to their families and communities, helping to spread awareness of emergency numbers.

“The voices of young people can reach places where adults sometimes cannot. They have a unique way of sharing information within their communities.

“There are no barriers to using the emergency numbers. The lines are toll-free, and once dialled, our call agents promptly respond and escalate the situation to the appropriate emergency agency.

“We want the students to know these numbers by heart. During emergencies, they should remain calm and provide clear details such as the location and how responders can access the scene. These are basic but critical steps.”

Adeyinka added that the initiative was not a one-off exercise but part of a broader plan to reach more communities across the state.

“This sensitisation is not a one-off exercise; it is just the beginning. We chose this school because Agege is centrally located with a large and vibrant population.

“Our aim is to reach as many people as possible. With the number of students here, we are confident the message will spread widely. Today, we have reached about 1,125 students,” she said.

The school principal, Mulikat Balogun, commended the initiative, noting that the knowledge gained would extend beyond the school environment.

“We are excited about today’s event. We have been looking forward to it because it is important for students to know about emergencies and the numbers to call. This knowledge will extend to their families and the wider community,” she said.

One of the participants, Emmanuel Awoseyin, said, “I learnt that we should know the emergency numbers, 767 or 112, in case of any disaster in our community. We were also taught to stay calm and not panic.”

Another student, Rebecca Alamu, added, “I learnt that there is always hope during emergencies through these call numbers. We have been taught to remain calm and call for help.”