By Lukman Olabiyi
The Lagos State Government has reported that fire incidents caused property losses of ₦19.52 billion and claimed 19 lives over the past year.
The Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, disclosed this on Wednesday, May 21, during the 2025 Annual Ministerial Press Briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre in Alausa, Ikeja.
Oyerinde noted that the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service handled 1,952 fire-related emergencies, with 578 being false alarms. He condemned these hoax calls, stating they divert resources and delay responses to genuine emergencies, putting lives at risk.
“Despite our efforts, the state lost N19.52 billion in property to fire incidents. However, we saved properties worth over N117.12 billion and rescued 450 individuals alive,” Oyerinde said. He described the 19 deaths as a stark reminder of the dangers of fire emergencies for both residents and responders.
To enhance prevention, the Fire and Rescue Service inspected 7,870 facilities, issuing 7,039 fire safety certificates to hotels, schools, hospitals, fuel stations, and industrial sites. The agency also conducted 450 fire safety awareness programmes, including media campaigns and school education initiatives.
Oyerinde noted challenges such as prank calls and attacks on fire personnel during operations. He said the state is collaborating with security agencies and lawmakers to prosecute offenders. The service currently employs 932 uniformed officers and 30 non-uniformed staff, with no new hires in 2024. To improve morale, allowances were increased, and two new fire stations were commissioned.
The commissioner reaffirmed the government’s commitment to strengthening fire service infrastructure, expanding training, and promoting community-based fire safety education to reduce future losses and enhance emergency response.