Kayode Tokede
Stakeholders have demanded stronger prevention and stricter enforcement in opposition to fireplace incidents in Lagos as file confirmed a complete of 1,685 fireplace incidents in 2025 alone resulted in 133 deaths and billions misplaced in property damages.
The stakeholders on the premiere of “Burning Point: Inside Lagos’ Fires”, an investigative documentary produced by CBI News, referred to as for a compulsory fireplace insurance coverage for markets and merchants to guard merchants in opposition to losses from fireplace outbreaks.
These calls have been made in Lagos the place public officers and different stakeholders highlighted the devastating results of fires on companies, livelihoods and households.
The Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Obafemi Hamzat, who was represented by the Director-General, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, mentioned the state had expanded its firefighting capability however burdened the necessity for stronger preventive measures, compliance with security necessities and higher public consciousness.
Hamzat mentioned the variety of fireplace stations in Lagos had elevated from 14 in 2019 to 29, whereas the federal government had procured 62 new automobiles throughout completely different operational classes to help firefighting, rescue operations and different emergency providers. She added that the federal government had recruited 685 personnel between 2019 and 2026 and supported native and worldwide coaching to enhance their technical competence.
However, he defined that tools and personnel alone couldn’t forestall fireplace disasters, stressing that constructing homeowners, companies and facility managers should preserve protected electrical installations, accessible escape routes and adjust to relevant fireplace security necessities.
“The best fire incident is the one prevented. The best fire fought is the one prevented,” he mentioned.
Hamzat added that fireside prevention required cooperation amongst authorities businesses, companies, property homeowners, communities and the media, whereas investigations into main incidents ought to set up the causes and establish areas requiring corrective motion.
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, nevertheless raised considerations about substandard photo voltaic power merchandise getting into Nigeria as households and companies more and more search alternate options to costly electrical energy and diesel.
He referred to as for stronger regulation by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and different related businesses to make sure that electrical and photo voltaic merchandise meet security necessities.
The President of the Ndigboamaka Progressive Market Association, Chinedu Ukatu, famous that obligatory insurance coverage, improved electrical installations and higher market infrastructure have been essential to cut back the affect of recurring fires on merchants and their investments.
Ukatu mentioned merchants usually misplaced their complete stock in fires however remained answerable for repaying loans obtained to finance their companies.
“A trader who borrowed N20 million to do business. He bought goods. He sells in shops. One spark in the night, everything is gone. He goes back to zero,” he mentioned.
He mentioned the losses may depart merchants struggling to rebuild their companies whereas assembly current monetary obligations.
Ukatu urged the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Lagos State Government to work with market associations to make fireplace insurance coverage obligatory for outlets, noting that collective preparations may make protection extra accessible to merchants.
“It has been very difficult for me and for all of us as market leaders alone to enforce it. But if you ask me, if National Insurance Commission and Lagos State Government can partner with our association and make fire insurance compulsory in our shops, we are going to work in collaboration with you to get it done,” he mentioned.
He additionally proposed the institution of a Lagos State Fire Emergency Fund involving the federal government, market associations and private-sector organisations to offer speedy monetary help to merchants affected by fires. According to him, the proposed fund may present between N1 million and N3 million to affected merchants inside 28 hours to assist them restart their companies.
Ukatu additional referred to as for the rehabilitation of dilapidated markets, the substitute of unsafe electrical wiring and the supply of accessible roads to allow fireplace vans to succeed in affected places rapidly. He alleged that insufficient inspections, poor infrastructure and the storage of extremely flammable items in outlets elevated the dangers dealing with merchants.
The market affiliation president additionally referred to as for the coaching of volunteer market fireplace marshals to offer preliminary emergency intervention earlier than skilled firefighters arrive.
The founding father of CBI News, Chris Baywood Ibe, mentioned the documentary was meant to maneuver public dialogue past the speedy destruction attributable to fires to the underlying causes, preparedness, emergency response and accountability.
He mentioned the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service rescued 473 folks and saved property valued at N118 billion. Ibe mentioned fireplace security needs to be handled as a public security and financial precedence, given the affect of outbreaks on households, merchants, companies and communities.
He referred to as for stronger coordination amongst authorities businesses, emergency responders, companies and residents, in addition to funding in fashionable tools, skilled coaching, common security inspections and public schooling.
He additionally urged households and companies to make sure that their fireplace extinguishers remained legitimate and purposeful, warning that proudly owning security tools was not sufficient with out correct upkeep and preparedness.
The documentary premiere introduced collectively representatives of the Lagos State Government, the fireplace service, market associations and different stakeholders to debate measures to forestall fireplace outbreaks and scale back their human and financial penalties.
