The Lagos State Government has been commended for its timely action in sealing over 840 event centers and social facilities for safety violations and non-compliance with extant laws.
No fewer than 70 Civil Society Organizations having assessed the risks and attendant consequences the over 800 event centers operating illegally pose to the residents of the state declared that “the Lagos Government got their decision right”.
In a statement made available to newsmen, the Convener of Campaign for Dignity in Governance & Coalition of 70 Civil Society Organizations, Razaq Olokoba lauded the Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu-led administration for being firm with key decisions concerning the state and averting catastrophe that could have been caused by unsafe environments owners of event centers are operating on.
“We are with the state government on this decision, shutting down of illegal event facilities and those that are not complying with the rules and extant laws was right.
“We cannot at this time and age continue to be a lawless society, so we will continue to support the steps the governor and his team are taking to improve the state and we urge every resident of the state to throw their weight behind the administration.
“The Lagos government by sealing these over 800 hazardous event centres avert catastrophe in the state and we should all applaud them,” Olokoba said.
The Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations had revealed the safety officers from the state’s Emergency and Fire Rescue agency successfully rescued 376 victims, preserving properties estimated at N152.22bn, but with the regrettable loss of 82 lives and properties N25.37bn.
The ministry noted that its decision to seal the event centers was to mitigate risks and protect the lives and property of the government and citizens.
Speaking during a Ministerial Press Briefing at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre earlier in the week, the Commissioner, Gbenga Oyerinde, highlighted the achievements of the ministry in the last year. He said that the Lagos State Safety Commission carried out enforcement action at 840 facilities including event centers, clubs, lounges and hotels, and construction sites for safety infractions in the interest of public safety in the last year.
The sealed facilities included the Lekki Conservation Centre and Quilox, among others. He added that about 7,819 facilities were inspected to ensure safety, with some 5,220 issued with fire safety compliance certificates.
The PUNCH reports that in March, the government announced the reopening of the Lekki Conservation Centre following the completion of maintenance work.
The state government sealed the tourist destination after a visitor took to social media in a viral video to lament the bad state of the canopy walk bridge and some other areas.
Speaking further, the commissioner said, “In line with efforts to bolster infrastructure, three new fire stations are nearing completion in Ijegun-Egba, Satellite Town, and Ijede, while an ultramodern workshop at the Alausa headquarters is nearly finished to cater to the agency’s fleet maintenance needs.
“Key statistics from the year’s emergency calls revealed a total of 2,537 incidents, including 1,627 fire calls, 191 rescue calls, 93 salvage calls, and four explosions, alongside 607 false alarms.”
