Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has called for greater collaboration among government, businesses and residents to strengthen fire prevention across the state, stressing that ensuring public safety is a shared responsibility.
The governor made the call at the Lagos International Fire Safety Conference (LIFSC) 3.0, themed “Preventing the Preventable: Strengthening Fire Safety in Buildings and Business Hubs,” held at the Marriott Hotel, Ikeja.
Represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, Sanwo-Olu expressed concern over the high rate of false emergency calls, revealing that 62 per cent of calls received by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service are false alarms, a trend he said continues to hamper effective emergency response.
He urged residents to treat fire safety as a collective duty rather than the sole responsibility of government, noting that investments in fire prevention are essential for protecting lives, businesses and the state’s economy.
“A single major fire can erase years of investment, disrupt supply chains, displace families and negatively impact the wider economy,” the governor said, describing fire prevention as both an economic and humanitarian necessity.
Presenting the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service’s seven-year performance report covering 2019 to 2026, the Controller-General of the agency, Margaret Adeseye, disclosed that firefighters responded to 10,931 fire incidents, 916 rescue operations, and 599 salvage missions during the period.
According to her, the agency successfully saved 1,715 lives and protected properties valued at more than ₦658.86 billion.
Adeseye also highlighted major achievements recorded under the Sanwo-Olu administration, including the expansion of fire stations from 14 to 25, with four additional stations currently under construction.
She added that the state procured 62 modern firefighting vehicles, recruited 685 firefighters, and implemented several institutional reforms aimed at improving emergency response.
Looking ahead, she said the agency’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan will focus on deploying smart firefighting equipment, artificial intelligence-driven fire risk mapping, establishing a Marine Fire Response Unit, creating a Fire Academy, and fully digitising emergency response operations.
Earlier, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Hon. Gbenga Oyerinde, said this year’s conference underscored the need to move beyond responding to fire outbreaks by prioritising preventive measures.
He stressed the importance of promoting a culture of fire safety in homes, schools, markets, workplaces and other public spaces.
The conference brought together policymakers, emergency management professionals and industry stakeholders to discuss strategies for strengthening fire safety regulations and improving resilience across Lagos’ rapidly growing commercial and residential communities.
