The Lagos State Government has concluded plans to hold the maiden edition of the Lagos International Fire Safety Conference 1.0 by the end of the second quarter of 2024.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Gbenga Oyerinde, made the announcement in a statement.
According to the commissioner, the conference is being organised by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service in collaboration with strategic partners.
He disclosed that the Conference themed, “Stakeholders Collaboration: A Panacea to Incessant Fire Disasters in Lagos” is scheduled to hold on Tuesday 25 June – Thursday 27 June, 2024, at Balmoral Convention Centre, Federal Palace Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, Nigeria.
Oyerinde said the administration of His Excellency, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will not fold its arms and allow lives and property to continue being lost to avoidable fire incidents in the state.
The Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye said, “In 2021, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service received 1,195 distress calls, recovered 76 dead and recorded N11.95 billion worth of estimated property lost to Fire and related incidents. By 2023, distress calls received rose to 2,537, with 82 casualties and N25.37 billion worth of estimated property lost with attendant environmental effects.”
She said the Fire Safety Conference will assist in galvanising diverse opinions of relevant stakeholders in reducing to the barest minimum the incident of perennial fire and related emergencies outbreak in the State.
“Much as we are aware that as human endeavours persist with the ever-growing population of the State in size and economy, we cannot do away with daunting challenges which we have been surmounting. There is however the need to restrategise, rethink and diverse new approach to doing things differently as it is not sustainable with the present status quo,” Adeseye added.
Hence, the Conference which will feature workshop, seminar, panel discussion, networking, expo will be declared opened by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
“This Conference will enable us to review our past, reflect our present and map out plans for the future while exploring cutting edge technology in Making Lagos a 21st Century Economy as envisioned in the THEMES+ Agenda for the benefits of Lagos in particular and Nigeria in general.
“Finally, let me assure all the Conference attendees and Lagosians in general that discussions and resolutions at the event will not be another talk-shop, but the State Government will walk the talk and implement policies reached from the forum to the letter,” Adeseye said.
