The Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, has said over 80 per cent of fire and related emergency incidents recorded in the state are caused by carelessness.
Adeseye made known in a statement on Thursday while highlighting the objectives of the upcoming 2nd Lagos International Fire Safety Conference (LIFSC 2.0), scheduled to be held in August.
According to her, the conference is a platform to drive home the message on how best to prevent such incidents.
In the statement signed by the Senior Public Affairs Officer of the agency, Maria Fadairo, the LFRS boss said, “Carelessness accounts for over 80% of fire and related emergency incidents in Lagos. LIFSC 2.0 is our platform to drive home the message that ‘the best fire fought is the one prevented’ equipping residents and businesses with the tools to mitigate fires risk effectively.”
Organised by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service under the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, the three-day conference is themed, “Leveraging Technology and Community Engagement to Prevent Fires.”
Fadairo however stated that no fewer than 2,000 participants were expected at the conference, including industry experts, emergency responders, community leaders, market dwellers and policymakers.
The Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Olushola Sanwo-Olu, will give the keynote address and declare the conference open.”
“LIFSC 2.0 aims at disaster risk reduction across Lagos, Nigeria’s commercial hub and beyond, by promoting a culture of prevention, preparedness, mitigation while building resilience. It will feature enlightening workshops, expert panel sessions, and cutting-edge exhibitions focused on disaster risk management, dangerous goods handling, live demonstrations of fire suppression systems, and an expo showcasing state-of-the-art fire safety equipment.”
She quoted the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Gbenga Oyerinde, as saying that the conference is a cornerstone of the state government’s proactive approach to safeguarding lives, property and the environment.
“By fostering collaboration among stakeholders and empowering communities with knowledge, we are building a safer, more resilient Lagos for all,” Oyerinde stated.
Fadairo said the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Sesan Ogundeko, emphasised the need for the continuity of such conferences to sustain the desired change in safety culture across Lagos.
“Building on the success of LIFSC 1.0 held in 2024, which attracted over 1,800 delegates, this year’s edition aims to deepen conversations around prevention, mitigation, and the role of communities in fire safety,” the statement added.
PUNCH.
