Kazeem Ugbodaga
Properties worth N3.71 billion have been lost to fire in Lagos State in the last three months.
This was disclosed by the Lagos State Government while taking inventory of the havoc caused by fire in Lagos between June and September, 2015, marking the period Governor Akinwunmi Ambode took over the realms of governance in the state.
Report made available by the Lagos State Fire Service revealed that the fire servicemen responded to 464 emergency calls, which include fire, collapsed buildings and other rescue operations.
The report further revealed that estimated properties worth N22.26 billion were saved from being consumed by fire while about N3.71 billion estimated worth of properties were razed by inferno.
The fire service said it secured the release of an undisclosed fund for aggressive public enlightenment programme to sensitise citizens on fire and disaster prevention.
“This is an ongoing exercise which is being conducted through motorised campaign to all nooks and crannies of the state.
“The fire service secured approval to increase the fire services’ workforce with recruitment of 100 able firemen to further strenghten the service,” the report said.
Meanwhile, in the same report, the Lagos State Film and Video Censors Board has apprehended 33 suspected pirates and seized 11 bags of illegal and pirated movies in the last three months.
The agency also arrested 55 offenders, prosecuted and sentenced them to varying terms of imprisonment from one month to six months while six of them had options of fine, just as it registered four cinemas and viewing centres in addition to the existing ones in the state.
The reports added that the agency distributed demand notices to defaulting video clubs, viewing centres and cinemas in some parts of Lagos State and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with its Federal counterparts.
It said the agency regulated the shooting of films in any part of the state with the issuance of shooting permit, as it issued 110 shooting and filming licenses for crews and cass of a number of production.