News
LASEMA Upgrading Control Centre, Intensifies Surveillance
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has said that it will extend its surveillance to include responding to emergency incidences on Lagos Waterways alongside other relevant stakeholders.
This, the Agency said shall be Intensified with the upgrade of its Command and Control Centre (CCC) in Alausa, adding that the capacity of the state emergency responders has been improved to swiftly attend to emergency issues in the State.
Speaking at a stakeholder session, Mr. Seye Oladejo, Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, said that the successes recorded in emergency issues in recent times is largely due to the deliberate efforts of the State Government to heavily invest in the procurement of needed equipment and heavy duty vehicles as well as the synergetic collaboration between the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and other relevant stakeholders.
Emphasizing the theme for the forum, “A New Dawn in Emergency/Disaster Management in Lagos State”, Oladejo described it as apt, considering the need for effective collaboration and sharing of information with all relevant stakeholders who are pivotal in the management of emergency/disaster in Lagos State.
The Commissioner maintained that the unique features of Lagos State makes its vulnerable to emergency incidences, “these unique features of the State include localization and concentration of industries (about 70-80 percent of the Nation’s industries concerns), presence of Airports (International and Local), Sea Ports and high vehicular density. These unique features have more often than not resulted in ubiquitous fuel tanker/articulated trucks accidents and myriads of incidents often impacting on the ecological dynamics of the State,” he added.
He charged the officers on preparedness, reminding them that the protection of lives and property should be seen as a collective responsibility and as a twenty-four-hour business since disaster do not give warning, hence the need to be prepared and ready to move to action, every day, every hour every second and every moment.
Also, speaking at the event, Mr. Adesina Tiamiyu, general manager of LASEMA, while emphasizing on the increased surveillance on Lagos waterways by the Agency, added that His Excellency Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode has approved the establishment of Aquatic Unit for the Agency, specifically for rescue mission on the State waterways to complement the efforts of existing responders on Lagos lagoon.
“Presently we have Lagos Ferry Service, Lagos Waterways Management Agency, the Marine Police, and several others. All of these operatives are always on the waterways daily patrolling the waterways but very soon, what you will see is LASEMA branded boat, also joining force with those who are on the waterways; this will now improve the capacity to respond to any emergency on the waterways.
He added that the Command and Control Centre, Alausa, where all emergency calls are activated to relevant responders is now being upgraded to interface with those on the field of operation and the control room personnel for supports and necessary deployment.
The LASEMA General Manager maintained that the agency does not, and cannot arrogate to itself the power to exclusive knowledge and capacity of responding to all emergencies without the active support of relevant stakeholders, saying that the agency with the support of the relevant stakeholders has performed creditably well since its establishment, through effective coordination and collaboration.
“Let me therefore use this opportunity to commend and thank all our stakeholders such as the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, Lagos State Fire, Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS), Rapid Response Squad, RRS, Task Force, State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) and several others. It is now more than ever before, the relationship between LASEMA and all its stakeholders is better strengthened and solidified for the purpose of making the state a safe haven,” he reiterated.
While saying that emergencies and disasters by nature are unforeseen, devastating and sudden, Tiamiyu explained that the stakeholder’s forum is expected to provide an urgent need required to achieving a sustainable disaster risk reductions especially in Lagos State.
“This forum will also assist in appraising our performances so far, brainstorm on ways to overcome existing challenges, strengthen our level of preparedness for effective response capability amongst the stakeholders and to generally build a culture of safety and resilience at all levels,” the General Manager stated.
A statement by Adebayo Kehinde, PAO, LASEMA, shows stakeholders present at the meeting include; Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) Lagos State Building Control Agency, Lagos State Fire Service, State Environmental Monitoring Unit, Ministry of Environment, Federal Road Safety Corps, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps.
Other were National Emergency Management Agency, Nigerian Police, Task Force, Anti Bomb Squad, Rep. of Commander 9th Brigade Nigerian Army, Ikeja Cantonment, Clergy men, Muslim Community, Red Cross, Boys Scout, and Emergency Management Volunteer (EMV) amongst other.
Guests at LASEMA recent stakeholders Forum held in Lagos on Tuesday
A recently released Henley Passport Index 2026, showed that Nigerian citizens can travel to at least 20 destinations outside the African continent where entry is allowed either visa-free, with a visa on arrival (VOA) at no extra cost, or via an e-visa.
This expanded access opens doors for Nigerian travellers to experience countries in the Caribbean, Asia, and beyond with greater ease.
Below is a comprehensive guide to countries outside Africa which Nigerian passport holders can visit without a traditional visa.
Visa-Free Countries outside Africa for Nigerian Passport Holders:
Barbados
Cambodia – Visa on arrival
Comoros Islands – Visa on arrival
Cook Islands
Dominica
Fiji
Haiti
Iran – Visa on arrival
Kiribati
Lebanon
Maldives – Visa on arrival
Micronesia
Montserrat
Niue – Visa on arrival
Palau Islands – Visa on arrival
Samoa – Visa on arrival
St. Kitts and Nevis
Timor-Leste – Visa on arrival
Tuvalu
Vanuatuul
Nigeria and Israel yesterday reaffirmed their commitment to deepening bilateral cooperation in research, technology and innovation as both countries pledged to expand partnerships that will drive entrepreneurship, commercialise research and accelerate economic development.
The commitment was made at the closing ceremony and innovation showcase of the I-FAIR Cohort of the Israel-Nigeria Innovation Fellowship for Aspiring Inventors and Researchers (I-FAIR) in Abuja, where the Ambassador of Israel to Nigeria, Michael Freeman, announced that funding had been secured for the fifth edition of the programme, scheduled to begin in October 2026.
Freeman described I-FAIR as a practical demonstration of the growing partnership between both countries, saying it had enabled Nigerian innovators to develop local solutions to national challenges through Israeli mentorship and expertise.
He said, “This programme has never been about bringing Israeli solutions to Nigeria. It’s been about helping brilliant Nigerian innovators develop Nigerian solutions to Nigerian challenges supported by Israeli experience, mentorship and innovation.”
The envoy noted that the initiative had brought together government, academia, investors, engineers and entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into businesses capable of creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.
Announcing the continuation of the programme, he said, “I am so proud to stand here today and announce that we have secured with our partners funding for I-FAIR 5 and I-FAIR 5 will be launching in October 2026.”
Freeman said the relationship between Nigeria and Israel had grown significantly over the past four and a half years through cooperation in innovation, agriculture, healthcare, education, water management and technology.
He expressed confidence that stronger collaboration between both countries would unlock greater opportunities for startups, research institutions and businesses.
According to him, “Israel brings experience and innovation, technology, agriculture, healthcare, cyber security, security and water management. Nigeria brings extraordinary talent, creativity, entrepreneurship and one of the most dynamic young populations anywhere in the world.”
He added, “I have no doubt that the best chapters of the relationship between Israel and Nigeria are still ahead of us.”
The Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund, Architect Sonny Echono, also reaffirmed TETFund’s commitment to strengthening research and innovation through strategic partnerships with Israel and other stakeholders.
He said the I-FAIR programme aligned with Nigeria’s priorities in food security, agriculture, medicine, technology, clean energy and the circular economy, adding that TETFund would continue supporting initiatives that promote research commercialisation.
Echono stressed that collaboration between government, academia and industry remained critical to translating research findings into products and services.
He said, “It is this critical linkage, especially between science, engineering, technology and innovation, and the productive sector that is critical for translating R&D results and inventions into finished products for socio-economic benefits of our people.”
He disclosed that TETFund was working with partners to establish innovation facilities in about 60 tertiary institutions and had created a student innovation fund that would provide up to ₦50 million to students with commercially viable ideas.
The TETFund boss also announced plans for a National Research Fair later this year, where innovators would showcase products before policymakers, financial institutions and investors to attract funding and commercial partnerships.
Paying tribute to the outgoing Israeli ambassador, Echono described Freeman as a strong bridge between Nigeria and Israel.
He said, “Nigeria is grateful for your service. You have been a strong bridge between our two countries.”
Earlier, Head of Programmes at Innov8 Hub, Tolulope Aina, said sustainable economic development depended on building an innovation ecosystem that transforms ideas into successful businesses.
She noted that Innov8 Hub had supported more than 3,000 innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs, helping them convert research into products, startups and investment-ready ventures.
Aina said, “Nigeria does not suffer from a shortage of brilliant minds, what we need are stronger pathways that help those ideas become products, businesses, and opportunities that improve life.”
She thanked the Embassy of Israel and TETFund for their continued support in strengthening Nigeria’s innovation ecosystem.
According to her, “Building an innovation-driven economy requires collaboration, long-term commitment and shared purpose.”
Chief Judges drawn from countries across the African continent have resolved to collaborate and support measures aimed at ensuring the success of the Africa Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) through an efficient, reliable and predictable dispute resolution system.
They agreed to explore ways to harmonize disputes resolution mechanisms in the continent with a view to making it easier and faster to resolve commercial disputes.
The resolutions formed part of the decisions taken at the third Africa Chief Justices’ Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Summit held in Nairobi, Kenya between June 18 and 19.
According to a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, Mr. Tobi Soniyi, the African judicial leaders were of the view that commercial confidence depends largely on legal certainty.
They emphasised how structured Alternative Disputes Resolution could enhance commercial justice, protect the business environment and support the AfCFTA.
In her contribution, the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun urged called on African judiciaries to proactively prepare for emerging challenges to disputes resolution in the continent.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, who served as Co-Chair of the session on “Financial sector disputes, tax certainty and ADR: Building commercial confidence in Africa, noted that AfCFTA represents one of the most ambitious economic integration projects in modern history.
The CJN, who stressed the importance of a proactive Judiciary to the success of AfCFTA, warned that its success would depend, not only on trade protocols, tariff reductions and economic policies, but also on the strength and reliability of the institutions that support commerce.
Justice Kekere-Ekun urged her colleagues to examine how judiciaries in the continent, central banks, tax administrations and ADR institutions could work together to reduce uncertainty, prevent disputes, strengthen investor confidence and support the realization of AfCFTA’s objectives.
She envisaged the growth of intra-African trade to inevitably generate cross-border tax disputes; foreign exchange disputes; banking and payment system disputes; digital commerce disputes; enforcement of arbitral awards; recognition of foreign judgments; and disputes arising from regional supply chains.
The CJN, who said “African Judiciaries must proactively prepare for these emerging realities,” challenged African judicial leaders on the importance of disputes prevention mechanism.
She stated that modern commercial justice must move beyond the traditional focus on disputes resolution after conflicts arise.
“The most successful commercial systems are not those that generate the highest volumes of litigation but those that reduce the need for litigation,” she added.
Justice Kekere-Ekun, who stressed the importance of ADR, cautioned against seeing ADR as merely an alternative procedure.
She said ADR should rather be considered as a strategic tool for reducing transaction costs, preserving commercial relationships, enhancing investor confidence, reducing court congestion, improving ease of doing business and strengthening commercial certainty.
Sharing the Nigerian experiences, Justice Kekere-Ekun cited the recent decision by the Nigerian Supreme Court in the case of EMTS v. AFDIN Ventures Ltd. & Ors. (2026), which reaffirmed important principles of commercial certainty, including respect for arbitration agreements; recognition that consent may be inferred from conduct; judicial restraint from re-litigating arbitral disputes on the merits; and the importance of finality in arbitral awards.
According to her, the decision reinforced Nigeria’s position as an arbitration-supportive jurisdiction.
She identified timely resolution of tax disputes as an important factor in ensuring certainty and recommended Nigerian tax disputes resolution mechanism which she said “offers useful example of institutional reforms that support commercial certainty.”
Justice Kekere-Ekun recommended the Nigeria’s Tax Appeal Tribunal model, which she described as one of Nigeria’s most significant innovations.
According to Mr. Soniyi, Justice Kekere-Ekun’s message to his brother justices is clear: building an African commercial environment in which investors, businesses, regulators and citizens can transact across borders with confidence, secure in the knowledge that their rights will be protected and their obligations fairly enforced.
The summit advanced the goals of the African Chief Justices Alternative Dispute Resolution Forum (ACJADRF) to harmonize jurisprudence and establish common enforcement standards across the continent.
The CJN was, on the last day of the summit, nominated by the Chief Justice of Kenya as the Vice Chairperson of the Africa Chief Justice ADR Forum with effect from August 1, 2026. The nomination was ratified by the forum.
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