Lagos State has strengthened its emergency response capacity with the addition of 11 new fire stations, 62 modern firefighting vehicles, a rebuilt Fire and Rescue Service Headquarters, and the recruitment of 150 new firefighters currently training at the upgraded Fire Academy. Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, represented by Deputy Governor Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat at the Lagos International Fire Safety Conference 3.0 in Ikeja, said these investments have increased the state’s fire station network to 29. More stations are also under construction in Yaba, Ikotun, and Oworonshoki.
The Governor said the state’s emergency teams saved an estimated ₦118 billion in property and rescued over 1,900 lives last year. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service alone protected properties worth over ₦11 billion. He noted that enforcement has been tightened through stricter inspections and the Fire Safety Levy, stressing that compliance must ensure equipment remains functional, not just certificates. The state has also rolled out the Fire Marshal Programme to train volunteers in homes, schools, markets, offices, worship centres and factories to spot risks early, coordinate evacuations, and support responders before incidents escalate.
Reaffirming commitment to prevention, Sanwo-Olu called on developers, business owners and residents to put safety first. Lawmakers, officials and partners echoed the call. Hon. Olawale Rauf Age-Suleiman said safety is a shared responsibility, Commissioner Olugbenga Oyerinde urged a shift from reaction to prevention, and Sadeco CEO Vincent Effiong highlighted technology and collaboration. Controller General Margaret Abimbola Adeseye described the service’s growth since 2019 as remarkable, driven by sustained investment in infrastructure, equipment, training and efficiency.
