The National Disaster Operations Centre (NDOC) on 10th July 2026 hosted a high-level delegation from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) in a benchmarking visit aimed at strengthening collaboration and promoting the exchange of best practices in disaster risk management (DRM).

The delegation, led by Dr. Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary and accounting officer of LASEMA, visited NDOC to gain a deeper understanding of Kenya's disaster management architecture, operational systems, and the legal and policy frameworks that guide disaster risk management and emergency response. The visit underscored the growing importance of cross-border partnerships in building resilient communities capable of effectively preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Oke-Osanyintolu provided a comprehensive overview of LASEMA's history, evolution, and achievements since its establishment. He highlighted the agency's role in coordinating emergency preparedness, disaster response, search and rescue operations, and public awareness initiatives within Lagos State, one of Africa's largest and fastest-growing metropolitan areas. His presentation demonstrated how strategic planning, technology, and multi-agency coordination have transformed emergency management in Lagos.

The NDOC team welcomed the presentation, noting several similarities between Nigeria's and Kenya's disaster risk landscapes. Both countries face a wide range of natural and human-induced hazards, including floods, fires, disease outbreaks, industrial accidents, droughts, and other emergencies that require coordinated national and sub-national response mechanisms.

The delegation was later taken through an in-depth presentation by Mr. Jesse Ithai, Data Officer at NDOC, who outlined the Centre's organizational structure, operational mandate, coordination mechanisms, and the significant milestones achieved in strengthening disaster preparedness in Kenya. He also highlighted the provisions of the Disaster Risk Management Act, 2026, Kenya's disaster risk profile, and the country's efforts to institutionalize disaster risk reduction through coordinated planning, early warning systems, data-driven decision-making, and multi-agency collaboration.

The LASEMA delegation commended the presentation, expressing appreciation for Kenya's progress in developing an integrated disaster risk management framework. They particularly praised NDOC's coordination model and the emphasis placed on proactive disaster preparedness and information management.

The exchange continued with a presentation by Mr. Thomas Shamala from the National Disaster Management Unit (NDMU), who elaborated on Kenya's disaster risk reduction and disaster risk management policy landscape. His presentation explored the national policies, institutional arrangements, and strategic frameworks that guide disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, recovery, and resilience-building across the country.

The interactive discussions that followed provided an opportunity for both delegations to compare experiences, identify common challenges, and explore innovative approaches to disaster management. Topics such as emergency coordination, policy implementation, community engagement, capacity building, and the use of technology in disaster response featured prominently during the engagements.

The visit concluded with a mutual commitment to strengthen cooperation between the two institutions through continuous knowledge exchange, sharing of best practices, technical collaboration, and capacity-building initiatives. Recognizing the value of sustained partnerships, the LASEMA delegation extended an invitation to the Kenyan team to undertake a reciprocal benchmarking visit to Nigeria's emergency management institutions, including the Nigeria Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), to further deepen collaboration and mutual learning.

The engagement reaffirmed that disasters know no borders and that international cooperation remains essential in enhancing preparedness and response capabilities. By learning from each other's experiences and embracing innovation, Kenya and Nigeria are taking significant steps toward building more resilient institutions and safer communities across Africa.

The NDOC–LASEMA benchmarking visit represents another milestone in advancing regional cooperation in disaster risk management and reflects the shared commitment of both countries to safeguarding lives, protecting livelihoods, and strengthening resilience against present and future disaster risks.