Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State has called on participants at the Lagos International Fire Safety Conference to commit to fire prevention advocacy to maintain a safe and secure environment.
The governor made this appeal at the opening of the conference held at the Federal Palace Hotel on Victoria Island, which had the theme: “Stakeholders Collaboration: A Panacea to Incessant Fire Disasters in Lagos.”
Sanwo-Olu urged participants to collaborate with the state government to educate residents on fire disaster prevention. He emphasized the government’s ongoing commitment to promoting a safety culture through robust policies, strategic investments, and community engagement.
“We want a Lagos where fire outbreaks are significantly reduced. We can achieve this if we work collaboratively and see ourselves as our brothers’ keepers. Fire disasters know no boundaries. If you are careful, the other person may not be. We need to educate everyone around us,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He stressed the importance of community involvement, stating that the government cannot tackle fire prevention alone. Sanwo-Olu called on educational, religious, and traditional institutions to enlighten their followers about safety measures, especially during the dry season and harmattan.
“Religious organizations, educational institutions, and traditional institutions all have pivotal roles in knowledge sharing. Stop storing petrol in your shops and don’t refill generator tanks when they are on. It will not only affect you but also endanger everyone within that parameter. We need more advocacy and must sensitize residents of the state. These fire incidents are avoidable,” he said.
The state Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-governmental Relations, Mr. Olugbenga Oyerinde, highlighted the state government’s proactive response to fire incidents through the provision of fire equipment. “We pride ourselves on being the best in emergency management. Our governor has been proactive, and our equipment is world-class,” he said.
The Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Mr. Ibrahim Liman, affirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to collaborating with states to save lives and property through fire prevention. He urged Lagos State to continue embracing advanced and cutting-edge solutions in fire prevention and control.
The Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, emphasized the need for public-private partnerships in preventing fire incidents and applauded the governor for building more fire service centers across the state.
