Governor of Lagos state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has disclosed that the state suffered an estimated {economic} lack of N19.52 billion to fireplace incidents in 2024, describing the recurrent menace as a critical risk to lives, property, and {economic} stability.
Sanwo-Olu made this identified on Tuesday on the Lagos State Worldwide Hearth Security Convention 2.0 in Victoria Island, with the theme, “Leveraging Know-how and Neighborhood Engagement to Stop Hearth”, Information Company of Nigeria (NAN) experiences.
The convention, organised by the Lagos State Hearth and Rescue Service (LSFRS), served as a platform for stakeholders to discover methods for fireplace prevention and improved emergency response.
The governor stated the state was adopting improvements such because the “Security on the Transfer” initiative to deal with frequent tanker fires, whereas intensifying public sensitisation via market, college, manufacturing facility, and residential visits.
“Our purpose is to make sure each Lagos resident is aware of easy methods to spot potential fireplace hazards, forestall fires, keep protected, and assist others,” he stated, urging the general public to be alert to early indicators of fireside dangers.
Sanwo-Olu counseled LSFRS for responding to over 2,500 misery calls in 2023 and urged stakeholders to strengthen the Incident Command System, enhance emergency response, and discover fashionable firefighting applied sciences.
He additional suggested prioritising fireplace detection, safety, and suppression methods alongside standard gear to regulate outbreaks on the earliest stage.
What the Commissioner for Particular Duties, different officers stated:
Commissioner for Particular Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, reaffirmed the federal government’s resolve to curb fireplace disasters, stressing the necessity to “rejig methods” in view of recurring incidents.
“There’s a must rejig our methods due to the frequent recurrence of fireside incidents. We stay unwavering in our dedication to reaching zero fireplace incidents,” he stated.
“Defending our communities from fireplace outbreaks is a collective accountability that we’re all devoted to.”
Earlier, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, the Director, LSFRS, recounting the statistics of the variety of fireplace incidents within the state, stated property price N117.12 billion was saved by the company from fireplace in 2024.
She disclosed that the estimated property misplaced was N19.52 billion.
Adeseye stated victims rescued alive had been 450, whereas 91 had been rescued lifeless.
“The company issued 7,039 compliance certificates and visited 7,870 industrial corporations to establish their compliance stage with fireplace security code.
“Nevertheless, 831 didn’t adjust to fireplace security code.
“In 2023, 2,573 fireplace incidents had been recorded, however within the yr 2024, we had a pointy drop of 1,952,” she stated.
In response to Adeseye, fireplace security is not only about gear however in regards to the folks.
“We combat to not combat the fireplace however life and future. Hearth security shouldn’t be securing gear however in regards to the folks.”
Lagos state’s Gross Home Product (GDP) reached $259 billion based mostly on buying energy parity (PPP) in 2025.
This milestone locations Lagos because the second-largest economic system on the continent, trailing solely Cairo, Egypt.
This was made identified in the course of the official launch of the Lagos {Economic} Growth Replace (LEDU) 2025 in January.
