Lagos Records N117bn Property Salvage, 450 Lives Rescued as Fire Incidents Drop by 20%

Lagos State has reported significant progress in fire safety management, rescuing 450 residents and salvaging properties worth N117.12 billion in 2024, alongside a 20% reduction in annual fire incidents.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu credited the gains to sustained government investment in modern firefighting infrastructure, community-focused safety campaigns, and the deployment of smart technology. He spoke at the second Lagos International Fire Safety Conference (LIFSC), themed “Leveraging Technology and Community Engagement to Prevent Fire”, held at Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island.

The 2024 Fire Report, presented by Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, revealed the agency responded to 1,952 emergency calls, of which 1,607 were fire-related. This marks a decline from over 2,500 calls in 2023.

“Lagos residents are becoming more conscious of fire hazards, while our response systems have improved significantly,” Sanwo-Olu said. “With 25 new fire stations in six years and over 60 modern fire trucks deployed, our capacity is stronger than ever. We’re also leveraging drones, smart surveillance, and an upgraded Command and Control Centre to reduce response time to between five and seven minutes.”

The Governor disclosed plans to deliver four additional fire stations and intensify advocacy campaigns to sustain the downward trend in fire outbreaks.

Gbenga Oyerinde, Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, emphasized that fire safety is a shared responsibility between government, private sector, and residents. “This conference brings stakeholders together to adopt global best practices in fire prevention and response,” he said.

In 2024, the Fire Service conducted 7,870 facility inspections and issued 7,039 fire certificates to businesses and institutions. Despite these achievements, 91 casualties were recorded, and properties worth N19.5 billion were lost.

Sanwo-Olu expressed optimism that 2025 figures will show further reductions, citing the impact of ongoing reforms, grassroots engagement, and private-sector partnerships.