By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Lagos State government has threatened to begin to sanction residents in the habit of storing flammables in residential or office buildings.
Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Mr Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, described this act as an “irresponsible practice,” reiterating the commitment of government to ensure the safety of lives and property of all residents of the city.
Mr Bamgbose-Martins, while inspecting the scene of the fire incident on Martins Street, Lagos Island, urged Lagosians to desist from keeping combustible materials such as PMS (Petrol) and PKO (Diesel), causing fire incidents.
Commenting on Wednesday’s fire incident, the Commissioner said the state government has resolved to bring down defective buildings across the state in order to prevent further loss of lives.
He acknowledged the quick response and intervention of the Lagos State Emergency responders, especially the State Fire Service, in quelling the raging fire, but decried the attitude of Lagosians who, instead of clearing the way, have the habit of taking pictures for social media, thereby restricting fire service vehicles from accessing the scene of emergency accidents.
The Commissioner, however, commiserated with all those who suffered one form of loss or the other in the fire incident, advising that residents of the city should endeavour to always call the toll-free numbers, 112 and 767, at the notice of any kind of danger.
Adedapo Adesanya 
Aduragbemi Omiyale