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By Lukman Olabiyi
The Lagos State Government has disclosed that properties worth N118.32 billion were saved from fire disasters in 2025, while assets valued at N19.72 billion were destroyed by fire incidents within the same period.
The state’s Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, revealed this during the 2026 Ministerial press briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.
Oyerinde said the figures reflected improved emergency response capacity by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and other emergency agencies, noting that the value of properties saved exceeded losses by over six times, resulting in a net asset protection of about N98.60 billion.
According to him, March 2025 recorded the highest value of properties saved at N12.60 billion, while August recorded the lowest at N6.78 billion due to fewer emergency incidents during the peak rainy season.
He added that March also witnessed the highest fire-related losses at N2.10 billion, while August recorded the least losses at N1.13 billion.
The commissioner disclosed that emergency responders handled 1,972 distress calls related to fire and rescue operations between January and December 2025, excluding false alarms.
He said fire outbreaks accounted for 1,685 incidents, making them the most common emergencies recorded during the period under review.
Oyerinde further revealed that the state recorded 139 rescue calls, 129 salvage operations, 13 collapsed building incidents, three partial building collapses and three explosion cases in 2025.
According to him, March and April witnessed the highest emergency activities with 210 and 197 incidents respectively, largely due to dry season conditions and increased ignition risks.
He noted that emergency incidents dropped to 113 calls in August before rising again to 189 in December as a result of festive season activities, increased traffic and heightened commercial operations.
On casualties and rescue efforts, the commissioner disclosed that 473 victims were rescued alive during emergency operations, while 133 bodies were recovered from disaster scenes across the state.
He said the government intensified fire prevention and safety enforcement measures during the year, with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service inspecting 8,791 facilities statewide and issuing 7,997 fire safety certificates to compliant organisations.
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The facilities inspected included 2,672 companies, 2,241 hotels and restaurants, 1,025 schools and vocational centres, 724 filling stations, 596 hospitals, 590 shopping malls and 141 banks.
Others, he said, included churches, event centres, bakeries, lounges, supermarkets, tank farms, high-rise buildings and embassies.
Oyerinde attributed the improved response capacity to sustained investments by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration in emergency infrastructure, personnel welfare and modern firefighting equipment.
He disclosed that the state procured 62 firefighting and utility vehicles and completed fire station projects at Ebute-Elefun in Lagos Island and Ijegun-Egba in Amuwo-Odofin.
According to him, ongoing projects in Oworonshoki, Yaba and Ikotun would further strengthen emergency response coverage across densely populated communities.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency recorded 1,156 emergency incidents in 2025 and rescued 1,924 victims from accidents and disaster locations across the state.
Oyerinde said road accidents accounted for 394 incidents, making them the highest category of emergencies handled by the agency, while truck and tanker accidents followed with 249 cases.
He added that 191 fire outbreaks, 92 truck breakdowns, nine fallen containers, 46 broken-down trucks, two fallen trees and three collapsed buildings were also recorded during the period.
The commissioner disclosed that 173 bodies were recovered from various accident scenes and disaster locations across Lagos in the last one year.
According to him, Eti-Osa recorded the highest number of emergency incidents with 180 cases, followed by Alimosho with 156 and Ikeja with 139 incidents.
Kosofe recorded 89 incidents, while Mushin, Oshodi/Isolo, Epe and Surulere recorded 49, 45, 42 and 41 incidents respectively.
Oyerinde also disclosed that LASEMA’s ambulance units responded to 1,382 medical emergencies statewide, with Lekki-Epe Base recording 143 incidents, while the Command and Control Centre handled 136 emergency medical responses.
He reiterated the state government’s commitment to strengthening disaster management through investments in rescue infrastructure, modern equipment, personnel training and grassroots emergency response initiatives.
