The Lagos State government is set to introduce a reality TV programme tagged “Lagos Rescue” aimed at showcasing the efforts and strategies of the State Government’s emergency management agencies such as Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Ambulance Services (LASAMBUS) and Lagos State Fire Service in tackling emergencies on Lagos Television.
According to the State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Kehinde Bamigbetan, Rescue, a one-hour programme, which will run on Sundays from 10.30p.m, is also meant to highlight the roles and responsibilities of the citizenry during emergencies for regular smooth operation.
Bamigbetan, who disclosed this Tuesday at a Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, said in a spirited effort to ensure that Lagosians live in peace, and also promote an accident-free society Governor Akinwunmi Ambode had approved the reality programme in view of the many benefits it offers the State, noting that this is in addition to the huge funds regularly allocated to the emergency management agencies to strengthen their capacity to manage an emergency.
In his words, “As a sensitive and responsive government, Lagos State strives to present real-life situations of emergency control and management to the public through Lagos State Television to make viewers know the huge efforts being put into managing hazardous circumstances. Everyone has a part to play in emergency rescue operations and the Reality TV show will enable viewers to identify their roles while watching the programme”.
“Lagos Rescue will also be focusing on the role of government establishments, rescue teams and members of the public in ensuring that every accident does not result in avoidable loss of lives of individuals involved in unforeseen emergency situations”, he added.
The Commissioner explained further that Consultants have been appointed to provide 24-hour coverage of the activities of the emergency management agencies. They are Pointclear Media Production which has been assigned to LASEMA Response Unit (LRU), BridgeWorld Communication to cover LASAMBUS and Legacy Film to record the Fire Service.
While noting that the media outfits are expected to work with officials of the agencies and provide 24-hour coverage to effectively document their activities in emergency management, he stressed that the media personnel will also accompany rescue teams on emergency management duties for the recording of activities involved in life-saving operations.
Bamigbetan pointed out that media personnel covering the emergency activities in the agencies were selected from a team of our private sector partners to allow a balanced reporting of events from different perspectives, saying that while we cannot avoid an emergency in the State, the Government remains committed to ensuring immediate and effective response to emergency situations.
He described Lagos Rescue as people-centric since it will present real-life experiences involving the state’s Emergency Rescue operations in order to achieve two major objectives of teaching viewers how first responders go about saving valuable lives of Lagosians and making them identify how they could have prevented casualties that result from such emergency situation.
The Commissioner, therefore, implored all Lagosians to watch the reality show on LTV every Sunday and provide valuable feedback through the various social media platforms of the Lagos State government.