The Oyo State Fire Service Agency says it recorded 80 fire incidents and three deaths between January and March 6.
The agency’s Chairman, Dr Moroof Akinwande, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan on Monday that the frequent fire incidents in the state were due to population explosion.
He said that lack of education, enlightenment and sensitisation on what could ignite fire, and how it could be curtailed, was also responsible for the frequent fire outbreaks.
“The agency is doing a lot to tackle fire incidents in the state head-on whenever they happen.
“Oyo State is trying as much as possible to expand to cope with whatever challenges arising from urbanisation and infrastructure,” he said.
The chairman said that the government had increased the agency’s budget to one billion naira in the 2025 budget to procure equipment and sensitise citizens to reduce fire incidents in the state.
He admonished the citizens on the inherent danger of the dry season and cautioned them to be very careful in the way and manner they handle naked fire and home appliances.
Akinwande said that a lot of people failed to plan for rescue routes in case of an accident when building their houses or commercial centres.
“Our law states that all households and commercial centres must have a safety certificate, but many people don’t.
“From the day of construction, we must have a plan for a rescue route in case of a fire accident, it must be embedded in the plan, this will minimise casualties when a fire accident happens,” he said