Lagos Fire Crisis Deepens As 1,972 Emergency Calls Hit Control Centre

The Lagos State Government on Monday disclosed that fire emergencies dominated distress calls received by the Lagos State Command and Control Centre in 2025, with Alimosho emerging as the local government with the highest number of incidents statewide.

The Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Olugbenga Oyerinde, spoke during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, where he presented operational data and emergency response statistics recorded across Lagos.

According to the commissioner, the Lagos State Command and Control Centre recorded 1,972 emergency calls between January and December 2025, excluding false calls, with fire outbreaks accounting for 1,685 incidents.

He described fire emergencies as the most prevalent crisis confronting the state during the period under review, noting that the figures reflected increasing pressure on emergency responders amid rapid urbanisation and population growth in Lagos.

Oyerinde explained that March recorded the highest number of emergency calls with 210 incidents, followed by April with 197, while August witnessed the lowest emergency activity with 113 calls.

He attributed the March-April spike to dry season conditions and increased ignition risks, while the drop in August was linked to heavy rainfall, which reduced fire outbreaks and movement across the state.

The commissioner added that emergency incidents surged again in December with 189 calls due to festive season activities, increased energy consumption and heightened commercial operations.

On the distribution of incidents across councils, Oyerinde said Alimosho Local Government recorded the highest number of emergencies with 180 incidents, closely followed by Eti-Osa with 156 and Ikeja with 139 incidents.

He said Kosofe ranked fourth with 89 incidents, while Mushin recorded 49 cases.

The commissioner disclosed that Oshodi/Isolo Local Government recorded 45 incidents, followed by Epe with 42 and Surulere with 41 incidents.

According to him, Lagos Mainland recorded 35 incidents, while Ikorodu recorded 25 cases.

He added that Apapa Local Government recorded 22 incidents, Ojo 13, Agege 11, and Amuwo-Odofin 10, while Ibeju-Lekki recorded the least number of emergencies with three cases.

Oyerinde noted that road accident emergencies constituted a major burden on the response system, accounting for 394 incidents, the highest among all emergency categories handled by responders.

He said truck and tanker accidents followed with 249 cases, while fire incidents remained widespread across residential, commercial and industrial areas.

The commissioner stated that the government had intensified investments in emergency response infrastructure to strengthen capacity and reduce casualties.

He disclosed that the state procured 62 firefighting and utility vehicles and completed major fire station projects at Ebute-Elefun in Lagos Island and Ijegun-Egba in Amuwo-Odofin.

Oyerinde added that ongoing fire station projects in Oworonshoki, Yaba and Ikotun would further improve emergency response time and operational coverage across Lagos.

He also highlighted the role of the Lagos State Command and Control Centre in coordinating rapid response among agencies, saying the system had improved communication, dispatch operations and real-time emergency management statewide.