From 31 Janauary - 2 February, the Basel Convention Coordinaing Centre for the African Region (BCCC-Africa) in collaboration with the Secretariats of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, the Joint Environment Unit of the United Nations Environment Programme (JEU) and the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) convened focal points from 11 West-African countries

(Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'ivoire, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea Bissau, Liberia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Senegal and Togo) to participate in a workshop on emergency prevention, preparedness and response in relation to incidents caused by hazardous chemicals and waste.

During the Workshop participants also had the opprtunity to visit the offices of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA). Participants were warmly welcomed by the Permanent Secretary Dr. Oluwafemi Oke-Osayintolu, who gave an overview of the Lagos State emmergency architecture. He also took the participants on a tour of the facilities and equipment at the control centre in Alausa, Ikeja office.

Funding for the workshop was provided by the European Union.

See pictures of the workshop and field visit, click here