- The agency inspected 7,870 commercial premises, issuing 7,039 compliance certificates to those meeting Lagos fire safety standards.
- A total of 831 companies failed to comply with the state’s fire safety regulations during inspections in 2024.
The governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for urgent measures to tackle recurring tanker fire incidents in the state.
Sanwo-Olu made the call on Tuesday at the Lagos State International Fire Safety Conference 2.0 in Victoria Island.
The theme of the conference was, “Leveraging Technology and Community Engagement to Prevent Fire.”
The governor disclosed that Lagos lost property worth N19.52bn to fire incidents in 2024.
The conference, organised by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss fire prevention and better emergency response strategies.
Sanwo-Olu said the state was introducing innovations such as the ‘Safety on the Move’ programme to address tanker fires.
He added that the state was intensifying public sensitisation with visits to 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,” he said.
He urged residents to be alert to early signs of fire hazards.
Sanwo-Olu commended the fire service for responding to over 2,500 distress calls in 2023.
He urged stakeholders to strengthen the Incident Command System, boost emergency response capacity, and adopt modern firefighting technologies.
The governor said fire detection, protection, and suppression systems should be prioritised alongside conventional firefighting equipment.
The commissioner for special duties and inter-governmental relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to curbing fire disasters through technology and community engagement.
“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,” he said.
“Protecting our communities from fire outbreaks is a collective responsibility that we are all dedicated to.”
The director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said the agency saved property worth N117.12bn in 2024.
She disclosed that the value of property lost to fire incidents during the period was N19.52bn.
Adeseye said the agency rescued 450 victims alive while 91 persons died.
She said 7,039 compliance certificates were issued while 7,870 commercial premises were inspected for adherence to the fire safety code.
According to her, 831 companies failed to comply with the code.
She said the number of fire incidents recorded dropped from 2,573 in 2023 to 1,952 in 2024.
Adeseye noted that fire safety was about people, not just equipment.
“We fight not to fight the fire but life and future. Fire safety is not securing equipment but about the people,” she said.
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