… as State moves to extend fire stations to Apapa, Mainland, other LGAs
By Moses Adeniyi
The total number of fire related emergencies attended to by the Lagos State Government through the State’s Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations within two years totalled 2,309, with properties worth N138.54 billion saved within the period under review; Nigerian NewsDirect has gathered.
Nigerian NewsDirect also gathered that the State Government is working towards extending Fire Station infrastructures across Local Government Areas (LGAs) in the State to fortify quick response to rising emergency from fire outbreaks.
Report gathered revealed that on the list of future projections for the envisioned additional Fire Stations are set for areas such as Lagos Mainland, Ikorodu, Kosofe, Apapa, Ifako-Ijaye, and Lekki in the State.
On non emergency fire prevention and advocacy, a total of 2,150 facilities were inspected to ascertain their level of Fire Safety Compliance; while 4,943 facilities were issued with Fire Safety Compliance Certificates within the period under review.
Some of the projects funded by the Ministry include procurement of new furniture; ongoing construction of Ajegunle Fire Station, Ajeromi Ifelodun LGA; and ongoing construction of Ebute Elefun Fire Station, Lagos Island LGA.
According to the State’s Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Engr. Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, during the ongoing Ministerial Briefing to commemorate two years of the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu led Administration in office, the Lagos State Government is working out a strategy for the procurement of new equipment and firefighting trucks for all the Fire Stations.
“The Government continues to protect fire fighters and provide better welfare programs, through the provisions of PPE in order to increase their efficiency which will be measured through improved response time,” he said.
He further disclosed that the State Government is already working on Fire Hydrants across the State, as well as the restoration of Fire Hydrants and introduction of new ones, to improve response and firefighting activities throughout Lagos State “thereby saving lives & properties.”
According to the Commissioner, in the cause of operation, properties estimated at N138.54 billion were saved from Fire and related emergencies during the period under review.
He further mentioned that the Ministry had moved to upgrading of 48 years old Department of Fire Service to an Agency Status for repositioning for effective and efficient service delivery.
He mentioned that from May, 2019 to March, 2021, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has undergone various transformations to enhance its operational capabilities to effectively curtail incident of Fire Outbreaks and related emergencies in the State.
According to him, the Ministry within the period under review facilitated necessary support to a number of Federal Agencies located within the state through the provision of befitting office accommodation, furniture and utility vehicles in order to achieve their respective goals.
Key interventions by the Ministry during the period under review include a combined public destruction of hard drugs by the Directorate of Operations, Lagos and Seme command by the NDLEA; Assessment of the Lagos State Fire Service through the development of an implementation Road map; Equipped and trained 1,500 Lagos State Neighborhood officers with First Aid Box and the ability to provide First Aid treatment including Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation to emergency victims.
Similarly, was the training of Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps in collaboration with Primary Health Care Board in respect to Covid-19 preventive measures Advocacy and Sensitization with respect to the Covid-19 Emergency Response.
The list of projects gathered to have been completed by the Ministry by the first quarter of 2021 include the Construction of NYSC Permanent Orientation Camp, Odo-Ayandelu (Fence Works); Construction of Regional Dispatch Site at Epe, Renovation of Relief Camp, Agbowa.
Others include, renovation of Relief Camp, Agbowa; Ongoing Construction of Fire Stations unncluding the Ijede Fire Station; Epe Fire Station; and the Ado-Sabo Fire Station, among others.
For the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service within the period under review, it was gathered that the Service attended to a total of 1,899 Fire Calls and has reduced the occurrence of same (fire outbreaks) by 10 per cent.
Within the period, the Service also responded to 312 Rescue calls, while in its rescue operations, 203 victims were rescued alive and 113 other victims were recovered, suspected dead.
However, the Service attended to a number of 98 false calls, bringing the total number of fire and other related emergencies that were attended to in the last two years to 2,309.
Other activities of the Ministry within the period under review include: Station Tours; Radio Enlightenment Advocacy; Road Show to create safety awareness; Public Advocacy on fire safety; Ensuring safety on fire incidents; School Safety Initiatives; Giving School Safe Awards and Inauguration of Safety Prefects; as well as Ensuring Safety in all Schools in Lagos State.
Others include: Stakeholders workshop for Marine operators, Fishermen and sand miners; Occupational Safety and health training for operational Staff of Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA); Workshop on the prevention and management of okada/kekemaruwa accidents in Lagos State; Participation on Safety Training; Safety Audit on Universities; Ensuring Event places are safe; Safety Training; Enforcement of Compliance of Covid-19 Protocol.
Other achievements within the period under review include: Passing out of over 3000 trained Corp Officers of the Lagos State Neighborhood Safety Corps in November, 2021; Community policing training; Donation of two black Maria and six power bikes by the State Government to the Agency to enhance effective surveillance
Others implemented by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) under the Ministry are: newly procured Ambulance fleet and Light Rescue Equipment (Spreader, Cutter, Ram, Power Unit); Infographics of Emergency Response from June to December 2019; Establishment of LASEMA Response Unit at Epe; Procurement of Personal Protective Equipment and Basic Light Rescue Equipment for the Local Emergency Response Cadets.
Establishment of the Emergency Management Volunteers in collaboration with the Ministry of Special Duties, LGAs, LCDAs and CDCs; Establishment of the Pre-Hospital Care Unit; Creation of the Emergency Operation Centre, EOC, for pictorial views of incidences, via whatsapp by stakeholders and exploration of other areas of communication between the Agency and the public, as well as ‘Real Time’ views of on-going operations of the Agency, Simulation of Multiple Road Traffic Accident.
Cases attended to by the Agency in the period under review include, the Ijegun Pipeline Fire outbreak, 4th July, 2019, Alimosho LGA; and six incidence of pipeline vandalism.
Other breakdown include the Pipeline Explosion on Sunday, 15th March, 2020 at Abule-Ado/Soba, Amuwo-Odofin LGA where Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu set up a relief trust fund with ₦250 million as take-off for the victims.
Out of 46 casualties recorded, LASEMA was reported to have rescued 24 alive (20 male and 4 female) while there were 22 fatalities
It was gathered that the Agency handled 78 Medical Emergency cases; six Attempted Suicide Victims were rescued and taken to the Lagos State Rehabilitation & Training Centre; Owutu, Ikorodu for proper attention; while six incidence of gas leakage/spillage was recorded during the period under review.
Others are Otedola Tanker explosion on Saturday, 27th March 2021 at Otedola Bridge, inward Berger.du on Wednesday 17th June, 2020; Badagry windstorm; BELL Helicopter 206B3 Crash on Friday, 28th August, 2020, Reconstruction of the Crash site.
Also were the Baruwa Gas explosion at Candos Road, Baruwa; Oando 7.5 Million Litres Tank Farm fire outbreak on the 5th November, 2020; Adele Market fire outbreak, Somolu on Tuesday, 26th January, 2021; Gas explosion at Iju-Ishaga on 24th September, 2020; Obalende Collapsed Building on Sunday, 11th October, 2020.
It was gathered that nine cases of Partially Collapsed buildings were handled by the Agency during the period under review, while six cases of Boat Capsize were attended to during the period.