Lagos Assembly calls for stakeholders’ meeting to curb fire outbreaks
Lagos State House of Assembly has called for an urgent stakeholders’ meeting to address the alarming frequency of fire outbreaks in the state, particularly in densely populated areas like Lagos Island.
In a motion raised by a lawmaker representing Amuwo Odofin 2, Rauf Age-Sulaiman, following the recent tragic incidents at Afriland Towers and Emab Plaza, which have highlighted critical gaps in the state’s disaster management framework, the lawmaker expressed deep concern over the growing trend of negligence and non-compliance with safety regulations, despite the state’s robust legal framework.
Age-Sulaiman, who lamented the incessant nature of the outbreak and widespread disregard for safety laws, said: “We need to curb these incessant outbreaks.”
He, however, stressed that negligence and lack of regulations were the core problems, urging Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to take immediate action on fire safety.
The Deputy Speaker, Mojisola Meranda, said it was long overdue for authorities to mandate the provision of water hydrants in all premises.
The Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa, concluded the session by praying for a successful stakeholders’ meeting, emphasising that with fire outbreaks becoming a regular occurrence on Lagos Island, engaging directly with the community is now essential.
In another development, residents of Royal Gardens Estate in Ajah, Lagos State, have appealed to the state’s House of Assembly to intervene in a protracted dispute with their developer, Trojan Estate, over electricity supply, service charges and alleged rights violations.
Chairman of the Royal Gardens Estate Residents Association (RGERA), Anthony Ogbebor, while speaking with the House Committee on Housing, led by Segun Ege, claimed that the community had endured unfair practices for over a decade.
The core of the dispute revolves around a “block-metering system” that Trojan Estate reportedly introduced after the estate’s communal generator became inadequate. Under this system, all households are connected to a single meter, making residents collectively responsible for the estate’s entire electricity bill.
He accused the developer of deliberately blocking efforts by the Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) to install electricity meters for individuals, a service already provided to similar estates like VGC and Crown Estate.
Ogbebor further alleged that Trojan Estate had ignored multiple invitations from the Nigerian Electricity Commission (NEC) to mediate, choosing instead to challenge NEC’s jurisdiction in court.
The legal case, which has been ongoing for over a year, is still awaiting a ruling.
In its response, the House Committee members have reportedly asked the developer to produce documents related to the court case and promised to schedule another hearing.
The committee is said to be considering a request to the state’s Chief Judge to help expedite a judgment.
Meanwhile, as of the time of filing this report, Trojan Estate has not issued a public statement regarding the allegations.
