Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has revealed the state lost properties worth N19.52 billion to fire incidents in 2024 alone.
Speaking at the Lagos State International Fire Safety Conference 2.0 in Victoria Island on Tuesday, the governor declared the recurring menace of tanker fire accidents a critical challenge requiring immediate solutions.
The conference, themed “Leveraging Technology and Community Engagement to Prevent Fire,” was organized by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to develop improved fire prevention and emergency response strategies.
Governor Sanwo-Olu announced the state’s adoption of innovative approaches including the “Safety on the Move” initiative to combat frequent tanker fires, alongside intensified public awareness campaigns across markets, schools, factories and residential areas.
“Our goal is to ensure every Lagos resident knows how to spot potential fire hazards, prevent fires, stay safe, and help others,” Sanwo-Olu stated, emphasizing the need for public vigilance against early fire risks. He praised LSFRS for responding to over 2,500 distress calls in 2023 while urging stakeholders to enhance the Incident Command System and adopt modern firefighting technologies.
Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr Olugbenga Oyerinde, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to technological solutions and community involvement in fire prevention.
“There is a need to rejig our strategies because of the frequent recurrence of fire incidents. We remain unwavering in our commitment to achieving zero fire incidents,” Oyerinde said. “Protecting our communities from fire outbreaks is a collective responsibility that we are all dedicated to.”
LSFRS Director Margaret Adeseye presented sobering statistics, revealing that while the agency saved properties worth N117.12 billion this year, the estimated losses still reached N19.52 billion. The service rescued 450 victims alive but recovered 91 bodies from fire scenes. Compliance checks showed 7,039 certificates issued to commercial establishments, with 831 found violating fire safety codes.
Adeseye noted a significant reduction in fire incidents from 2,573 cases in 2023 to 1,952 in 2024, attributing the improvement to prevention efforts. “We fight not to fight the fire but life and future. Fire safety is not securing equipment but about the people,” she concluded, underscoring the human-centered approach to fire management.
