By Kayode Olopade
N37billion worth of properties have so far been destroyed in Lagos State in the past one year while the Lagos Fire Services have received a total of 2,537 fire distress calls which were promptly attended to with an attendant 82 casualties and an unfortunate loss of about
However, the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while calling for collaborative efforts in combating menace of fire disasters in the state, stressed the need for improved public enlightenment initiatives across sectors of the economy.
Sanwo-Olu, the state Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, and Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, made the remarks on Tuesday, at the opening of a three day International Fire Safety Conference, with the theme: "Stakeholders Collaboration, a panacea to incessant fire disasters in Lagos," held at Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to Sanwo-Olu, "All of these things we can reduce it if we work collaboratively, if we see ourselves as our brothers' keeper. Fire disaster knows no boundaries, if you're careful the other person may not be careful we need to educate everyone around you.
"Ensuring that we're keeping a safe environment amongst ourselves, I need someone with the recommendation that will come out of this conference convinced that you'd bring solutions and ideas that will enhance and improve the quality of our responses and our ability to ensure that fire is removed completely.
"Sadly our government cannot do this alone and we still have a lot more to do, community involvement is equally very vital and educating our commission and essential component that will create a culture of safety.
"Religious organisation, educational institutions, traditional institutions all have pivotal role in disseminating knowledge sharing and fostering responsibility.
"We want a Lagos that fire is significantly reduced and build resilience where every stakeholder is actively involved in creating a safer and more informed environment."
According to Oyerinde, "A conference on fire disasters prevention and effective emergency management system could not have come at a better time than now, when there is the need for increased public awareness, campaigns and knowledge on fire disaster prevention and emergency management system in a fast growing population in a State such as Lagos.
"You will recall that one of the pillars of the Six -Point development agenda of this administration dwells on Security and Governance.
"This is not a coincidence; rather, it underscores our administration’s preparedness and commitment to safety, security, resilience, and disaster management even from the first term of our administration."
He described the theme of the conference as "very apt, instructive."
Oyerinde continued, "It is a pointer to the need for our collective collaboration and partnership in fire disaster preparedness, prevention, mitigation and efficiency in our emergency management efforts for the safety of lives and property of the citizenry.
Statistics of fire disasters in 1 yr
"Through regular capacity building of men of the Fire and Rescue Service and other emergency management agencies, the state government in the last one year has been able to rescue a total of 376 victims of fire disasters in the state, while properties worth about N152.22 billion were protected and preserved against fire destruction in the same period.
"Furthermore, from 2023 till date, the Lagos Fire and Rescue Service received a total of 2,537 distress calls which were promptly and effectively attended to with an attendant 82 casualties and an unfortunate loss of about N25, N37billion worth of properties.
"As much as the above statistics is for record purposes, it also demonstrates the State Government's genuine commitment to emergency management and public safety.
"In addition, the welfare of our firefighting personnel and other emergency responders has remained the top priority of this administration.
"This is hinged on our belief that the development of human capital is crucial to goal attainment, and a well-motivated personnel tends to give the highest productivity needed for maximum benefits.
"As a government, our administration will continue to create enabling environment for collaboration and partnerships with relevant organizations, corporate bodies ,individuals and experts that have attained greatness in emergency management and fire disaster prevention, using global technological approach.
"I urge participants, especially, our Lagos delegates to maximize the full benefits of this gathering since the overall objective of this conference is to share ideas and transfer knowledge for sustainable emergency management and fire disaster prevention in the overall interest of safety of lives and property.
"It is expected of this conference to thoroughly evaluate the existing fire and emergency management strategy in our dear State and come up with recommendations and solutions that may be more appropriate in guiding us as a government to adopt a strategy that is globally accepted as best practices in fire prevention and emergency management anywhere in the world.
"In furtherance of the implementation of Security and Governance Pillar of our administration’s T. H. E. M.E .S plus development agenda, the state government had procured over 60 firefighting trucks for the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service which has helped to build their capacities and strengthen firefighting operations in the State to a reasonable level.
"In addition, the state recently embarked on the construction of three new fire stations namely Ijegun Egba, Ijede, and Kosofe Fire Stations respectively.
"The Ijegun Egba Fire Station, located in Satellite Town within the Amuwo Odofin Local Government Area, has been successfully completed while the Ijede and Kosofe stations are nearly completed.
"The other two stations when completed will increase the number of our well- equipped firestations in the State to 16 across the 16 LG areas in the State.
"We are not resting on our oars; we hope to deliver more across our LG and LCDA areas to bring emergency management and rescue operations closer to our people, especially people at the grassroots."
He assured of the state's government support, "as we are ready to implement to the latter all the recommendations of this conference."
Adeseye said; "The administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has been remarkably taking giant steps in ensuring safety of lives and property of citizens as well as empowering fire fighters in procurement of equipment with view of curtailing this ugly fire incidents
As the chief fire of the state, I recognize that the service and government agencies can't address the complex fire safety challenges we face on daily basis.
"We need collaborative efforts from the private sector to confront public fire safety.
Fire statics in 6yrs
"In 2019 to 2024 we recorded 1,372 fire incidents in 2019, in 2020 we recorded 1,235, in 2021 we recorded 1,195, in 2023, we recorded 2,537 totalling 6,339 incidents in six years.
"The latest fire that happened at Dosumu Market in April 9, 2024, affected 23 buildings, while 15 were totally destroyed, 7 recorded damages.
"About 158 containerized shops were totally destroyed.
"Regarding daily tankers, tank farms, vehicles on fire, with alot of bodies recovered and injuries, we recorded the following between 2019 to 2024, the total victims rescued alive were 178 in 2019, in 2020, 112, in 2021, 60, in 2022, 127, in 2023, 372, while recovered dead were 60 in 2019, in 2020, 82, in 2021, 73, in 2022, 70, in 2023, 82.
"That's why we are calling for public private partnership. Together we can develop cutting-edge technology and improvement.
"Together we can enhance fire safety education and enlightenment programs, develop innovative solutions," among others.
"We are here for collaboration. Fire prevention is everybody's business.
"Meanwhile, a total of 362 persons died in road crashes, while 849 were rescued within the same period. "
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