Lagos Records 1,385 Fire Incidents in 2025, Documentary Highlights Safety Gaps

 

By Atlantic Reports

Documentary Examines Fire Risks in Lagos

Baywood Group has unveiled Burning Point: Inside Lagos Fire, a documentary produced by CBI News, the flagship news platform of Tribune Media, a company within the group.

The premiere took place on Monday at the Art Hotel in Victoria Island, Lagos, bringing together government representatives, emergency service officials, market stakeholders, professionals and media practitioners to discuss fire prevention, emergency response and accountability.

Speaking at the event, Baywood Group’s Executive Vice Chairman, Chris Ibe, said the documentary examined the causes of fires, the effectiveness of emergency response systems and measures needed to prevent future disasters.

Ibe cited figures attributed to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, which recorded 1,385 fire incidents in 2025, resulting in 103 deaths and estimated losses of ₦19.72 billion.

He said fire safety required collective responsibility among government agencies, emergency responders, property owners, businesses, the media and residents.

Ibe identified inadequate equipment, infrastructure, training, emergency access and coordination among agencies as areas requiring urgent attention.

He urged property owners and businesses to maintain functional fire extinguishers and conduct regular assessments of potential fire hazards.

He added that investigative journalism had a role to play in exposing institutional weaknesses, promoting accountability and encouraging practical solutions to public safety challenges.

Lagos Government Reports Expansion of Firefighting Capacity

Lagos State Deputy Governor Obafemi Hamzat said the state government had expanded its firefighting capacity through additional stations, operational vehicles, personnel and professional training.

Hamzat, represented by the Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said the number of fire stations increased from 14 in 2019 to 29.

He also said the government procured 62 operational vehicles and recruited 685 additional personnel between 2019 and 2023.

According to him, the establishment of zonal headquarters and a welding and mechanical engineering workshop had improved operational coordination and equipment maintenance.

Hamzat urged building owners and businesses to ensure safe electrical installations, provide accessible escape routes and comply with fire safety regulations.

He also called for thorough reviews of major fire incidents to establish what happened, identify operational weaknesses and guide corrective action.

The figures presented at the premiere indicate an expansion of firefighting infrastructure and staffing. However, further information on current equipment availability, response times and the operational performance of the expanded service would help assess how these investments have affected emergency outcomes.

Market Traders Seek Safer Infrastructure

The President-General of the Ndigbo Market Traders Association, Chinedu Ukatu, called for safer market infrastructure to protect traders, their goods and their livelihoods.

He said traders who lose merchandise in fires can be left with outstanding bank debts despite losing the businesses expected to generate income for repayment.

Ukatu cited the case of a trader who reportedly borrowed ₦20 million to import goods but lost the entire stock in a fire.

He identified ageing electrical installations, overcrowded shops, inadequate access roads and non-functional fire extinguishers as factors that could increase fire risks in markets.

He urged authorities to strengthen regulatory enforcement and conduct thorough investigations into suspected deliberate fires.

“We need to move from condolences to prevention investment,” he said.

Calls for Electrical Safety and Market Modernisation

Ukatu proposed a partnership between the Lagos State Government and market associations to identify and replace unsafe electrical installations and modernise ageing market structures.

He said preventive action should include regular safety inspections and improvements to market layouts to ensure that emergency vehicles could reach affected buildings.

He also advocated wider access to fire insurance and training for volunteer market fire marshals, who could help contain small fires before professional firefighters arrived, where it was safe to do so.

Ukatu said the association was willing to work with the National Insurance Commission and the state government to develop insurance arrangements for traders.

For small businesses, improved insurance coverage could help reduce the financial consequences of fire disasters, although access would depend on affordable premiums, suitable policy terms and effective claims settlement.

Prevention and Accountability Remain Key Challenges

The documentary has brought attention to the human and economic consequences of fires in Lagos, particularly for traders and business owners whose livelihoods can be destroyed in a single incident.

The concerns raised at the premiere point to several areas requiring sustained attention, including electrical safety, building compliance, emergency access, firefighting equipment, staff training and coordination among response agencies.

The next test will be whether the discussion leads to measurable improvements in prevention, emergency response and support for people whose businesses and homes are affected.

For Lagos residents and businesses, reducing fire losses will require not only effective emergency services but also safer buildings, consistent enforcement of regulations and investment in measures that prevent fires before they start.

Atlantic Reports: Voices. People. Facts.