Fire Prevention Requires Better Planning, Modern Technology — Rhodes-Vivour

The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship candidate in Lagos State, Mr Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour, has mentioned hearth prevention and emergency response have to be handled as a essential a part of governance due to the devastating affect hearth incidents have on lives, property and companies.

Rhodes-Vivour spoke as one of many panellists on the premiere of CBI News’ documentary, “Burning Point: Inside Lagos Fire” and a stakeholder dialogue, held in Lagos.

Discussing the theme “Beyond the Flames: Rethinking Disaster Preparedness, Response and Accountability in Nigeria,” he mentioned hearth might destroy worth and scale back investments to zero, particularly in a state the place insurance coverage protection shouldn’t be widespread and victims typically battle to get justice or compensation.

He mentioned the first function of presidency was the safety of life and property, including that authorities should have clear methods, situation plans and a correct understanding of how one can deal with hearth dangers, significantly in markets.

According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service 2025 Activity Report, Lagos recorded 1,685 hearth incidents in 2025. The report additionally indicated 133 deaths and estimated property losses of N19.72 billion.

Rhodes-Vivour: “Fire can take away everything. Government must have a system, scenario plans, and a clear understanding of how to address the problem, particularly in markets,” he mentioned.

He famous that Lagos is a centre of enterprise, with markets unfold throughout the state and serving as a serious driver of its financial system. He mentioned securing the lives and property of merchants and market customers ought to subsequently be a precedence for the federal government.

According to him, lots of the challenges in hearth prevention and response come up from poor situation planning, insufficient funding within the hearth service, and a failure to maintain tempo with trendy expertise.

He cited the latest hearth incident in a high-rise constructing on Lagos Island, saying footage confirmed a hearth truck on the base of the constructing pushing water to the higher flooring, whereas firefighters went inside to fight the blaze.

He argued that trendy firefighting expertise now provides higher choices, together with using drones to ship fire-suppressing units into affected rooms. According to him, such expertise can extinguish fires sooner, scale back dangers to firefighters, and never rely solely on entry routes for hearth vans.

Rhodes-Vivour mentioned the expertise had turn out to be widespread in international locations corresponding to China and in elements of Europe. He mentioned the continued dialogue round creating entry routes for hearth vans in markets and addressing water shortages confirmed the necessity for Nigeria to adapt to trendy options.

“We should not still be talking about fire trucks pushing water up 15-story buildings when drones can now be used,” he mentioned.

He acknowledged that fireplace vans would stay helpful for low-rise buildings, corresponding to bungalows and two-story buildings, however mentioned the federal government should embrace expertise and put money into it significantly.

He added that fireplace response shouldn’t be about making headlines over the acquisition of recent vans whereas residents watch for hours throughout emergencies. According to him, expertise will help present faster responses, safer operations, and higher safety for lives and property.

Also talking, the Director-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, mentioned Lagos, as a rising middle of commerce, business, transportation, and residential improvement, faces vital public security challenges.

Adeseye, who represented the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, mentioned the duty of the federal government goes past responding to emergencies.

She mentioned it additionally consists of anticipating dangers, lowering vulnerability, and defending lives, livelihoods, and investments throughout the state.

She defined that the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has a elementary mandate to avoid wasting lives and property by firefighting, hearth prevention, rescue operations, and humanitarian companies.

“The best fire incident is the one prevented,” she mentioned.

She mentioned the Lagos State Government had remodeled the hearth service from a division right into a full-fledged company to satisfy the state’s rising emergency-response wants.

According to her, the variety of hearth stations elevated from 14 in 2019 to 29, extending the service’s operational attain. She added that the institution of fireplace zone headquarters had strengthened coordination and repair supply throughout operational areas.

She additionally disclosed that the federal government had procured 62 new automobiles throughout totally different operational classes, together with hearth vans, water tankers, fast intervention automobiles, cellular upkeep automobiles, and hydraulic platforms.

She mentioned the belongings help firefighting, water provide, personnel mobilization, upkeep, and specialised operations.

However, Adeseye cautioned that tools alone was not sufficient. She mentioned efficient emergency response requires skilled personnel, sound procedures, clear command buildings, teamwork, and the protection of each responders and the general public.

In his welcome deal with, the founder and govt vice-chairman of Baywood Group, Mr. Chris Baywood Ibe, mentioned hearth was one catastrophe that nobody might utterly want away as a result of it might happen at any time.

He mentioned preparedness should subsequently stay a relentless precedence for people, companies, and establishments.

“At CBI Media, we take this issue seriously because fire incidents can have devastating consequences when people and institutions are not prepared,” he mentioned.

Ibe shared his private expertise of a fireplace incident at his dwelling. He mentioned he returned dwelling at about 2 or 3 a.m. and seen smoke billowing from the constructing.

He mentioned his coaching within the oil and fuel sector taught him to not panic throughout emergencies. Instead of appearing rapidly, he mentioned he assessed the state of affairs to find out the supply of the hearth.

He found that the hearth began from a water heater in his room after the water dried up and the equipment started to burn. He mentioned he was in a position to put out the hearth utilizing a hearth extinguisher put in in the home.

“The lesson from that experience is simple: when there is a fire, do not panic or scream. Panic can make a person lose focus and take the wrong action. It is important to remain calm, assess the situation, and respond appropriately,” he mentioned.

Ibe urged property house owners to do greater than merely personal hearth extinguishers. He mentioned the tools have to be usually checked to substantiate that it’s legitimate and purposeful.

He additionally suggested property house owners to work with the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and different certified firms to validate their hearth security methods in order that they aren’t caught unprepared throughout emergencies.

He mentioned CBI Media produced the documentary to transcend storytelling and examine why hearth incidents happen, how they occur, what might be executed to stop them, and the steps that ought to be taken afterwards.

“That is why we commissioned this in-depth investigation into fire incidents in Lagos and across Nigeria,” he mentioned.