In a decisive move to curb the recent surge in fire safety noncompliance across the metropolis, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has launched a rigorous on-the-spot compliance enforcement tour targeting major industrial hubs.
The Controller General, Margaret Abimbola Adeseye, led a specialised team of fire officers on a compliance assessment at the Amuwo-Odofin Industrial Layout and the Badagry Expressway corridor to evaluate the preparedness of high-risk facilities.
The enforcement exercise follows the resolve of the agency to step up the protection of lives, property, and the environment, as part of the Service’s mandate to tighten oversight of industrial and commercial sectors in response to a worrisome increase in fire emergencies.
During the inspections, the Controller General underscored that the Lagos State Government is taking a zero-tolerance approach to fire safety negligence.
The team’s evaluation focused on critical fire safety benchmarks, including the validity of fire safety documents, insurance cover for fire outbreaks, level of preparedness, functionality of firefighting equipment, and proper storage arrangements within the facilities.
Adeseye expressed concern over the level of compliance observed in some of the inspected facilities, noting that several companies demonstrated poor adherence to basic fire safety requirements. While a few organisations maintained acceptable standards, others had inadequate storage arrangements, poor ventilation systems, and obstructed gangways, all of which could pose serious fire risks.
She also emphasised that all companies visited must cooperate with the agency and ensure that the recommendations made during the inspections are strictly adhered to, after which enforcement and sanctions will be taken against them.
The inspection covered a diverse range of commercial interests, including the logistics and showrooms of Bijoux Building Company, Sweet Home Bathroom Limited, and Adems Market.
The team also conducted detailed assessments of manufacturing environments and temperature-controlled facilities, notably the cold rooms at Premium Aquaculture Limited and the production lines at PrimaQqCorporation Limited, a major manufacturer of PET preforms and caps.
Further scrutiny was applied to Lacasera Company Plc (Plant 2) and Ovas Luxury Doors, alongside an extensive audit of the Primlaks Nigeria Group. This included a review of the safety frameworks at Paramount Frozen Foods Limited, Venus Processing and Packaging Limited, and Best Store. The exercise, which is still ongoing, forms part of a broader statewide enforcement drive.
Adeseye reiterated that as the Service continues this initiative, it remains focused on its primary mission: safeguarding the investments and lives of Lagosians through strict regulatory compliance and the prevention of avoidable industrial disasters.