Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has called for urgent measures to tackle the recurring problem of tanker fire accidents, describing them as a major challenge for the state.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Lagos State International Fire Safety Conference 2.0 in Victoria Island, Sanwo-Olu revealed that the state lost property worth N19.52bn to fire incidents in 2024.
The event, themed “Leveraging Technology and Community Engagement to Prevent Fire,” was organised by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) to explore better strategies for fire prevention and emergency response.
The governor said the state was adopting innovations such as the “Safety on the Move” initiative to address frequent tanker fires while ramping up public awareness campaigns in 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, urging the public to remain vigilant to early signs of fire risks.
Sanwo-Olu commended the LSFRS for responding to more than 2,500 distress calls in 2023 and encouraged stakeholders to strengthen the Incident Command System, improve emergency protocols, and adopt modern firefighting technologies. He also emphasised the need for advanced fire detection and suppression systems to control outbreaks at the earliest stage.
Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, reiterated the government’s commitment to using technology and community engagement to reduce fire disasters.
“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.”
Earlier, Margaret Adeseye, Director of the LSFRS, provided statistics on fire incidents in the state, noting that the agency had saved property worth ₦117.12bn in 2024, despite the ₦19.52bn in losses. She said 450 people were rescued alive, while 91 were recovered dead.
Adeseye disclosed that the agency issued 7,039 fire safety compliance certificates and inspected 7,870 commercial premises, with 831 failing to meet safety standards.
“In 2023, 2,573 fire incidents were recorded, but in 2024, we saw a sharp drop to 1,952,” she said. “Fire safety is not just about equipment but about the people. We fight not to fight the fire but to protect lives and futures.”
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