Lagos Govt Seals 840 Event Centres For Violating Safety Regulations

The Lagos State Government has sealed over 840 event centres and social facilities for violating safety regulations and failing to comply with existing laws.

The Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Gbenga Oyerinde, made this announcement during a press briefing on Monday. He stated that the Lagos State Safety Commission has carried out enforcement actions at these facilities to ensure public safety.

Oyerinde emphasized that the Ministry’s actions are aligned with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus Agenda, which prioritizes risk mitigation and the protection of life and property.

He added that the Commission has inspected approximately 7,819 facilities, issuing fire safety compliance certificates to 5,220 of them. Additionally, the Commission has conducted 365 environmental safety advocacy initiatives.

“In line with the THEMES Plus developmental Agenda of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, to mitigate risks and protect the life and property of government and citizens of Lagos State, we have sealed eight hundred and forty event centres and social facilities for safety violations and non-compliance of extant laws,” Oyerinde said.

The Commissioner also reported that the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has successfully rescued 376 victims and preserved an estimated N152.22 billion worth of property. However, there were 82 casualties and N25.37 billion in property losses.

He announced the addition of new fire stations in Ibeju Lekki, Ifako Ijaiye, and other locations across the state.

“In line with efforts to bolster infrastructure, three new fire stations are nearing completion in Ijegun-Egba, Satellite Town, and Ijede, while an ultramodern workshop at the Alausa headquarters is nearly finished to cater to the agency’s fleet maintenance needs,” Oyerinde said. “Additionally, land spaces have been identified for the development of additional fire stations in Ibeju, Lekki and Ifako Ijaiye.”

He emphasized that the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service prioritizes fire mitigation and emergency response strategies, aligning with the administration’s THEMES Plus Agenda.

“A total of 2,537 incidents were reported, including 1,627 fire calls, 191 rescue calls, 93 salvage calls, and 4 explosions, alongside 607 false alarms,” Oyerinde said. “This highlights the critical need for increased awareness of fire safety measures to combat the impact of negligence and non-compliance with safety codes.”

The Commissioner also highlighted the importance of personnel welfare, stating that special allowances have been approved for firefighters, including uniform maintenance, shift allowances, hazard allowance, and provision of personal protective equipment. He added that capacity development is also prioritized through both foreign and local training and retraining programs.

Oyerinde mentioned the collaborative efforts with the Ministry of the Environment to improve the NYSC Temporary Orientation Camp (Youth Hostel) at Iyana-Ipaja. He also reported that LASEMA responded to 1,906 incidents between January 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024.