The Lagos State government has closed over 840 social and event venues in the last year due to a variety of safety infractions and breaking existing rules. Gbenga Oyerinde, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, released this information at a ministerial news conference to commemorate the first anniversary of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s second term.
Oyerinde reported that the closures affected a range of facilities, including event centres, clubs, lounges, hotels, and construction sites. These actions were part of a broader initiative to enforce safety standards and compliance across the state.
“Approximately 7,819 facilities were inspected to ensure safety standards were met, and 5,220 were issued fire safety compliance certificates,” Oyerinde stated. “We’ve sealed 840 event centres and social facilities due to safety violations and non-compliance with extant laws.”
The commissioner emphasized that the ministry’s efforts align with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES Plus Developmental Agenda, which aims to mitigate risks and protect the lives and property of both the government and citizens.
Additionally, the ministry has conducted at least 365 advocacy initiatives focused on environmental safety. Oyerinde highlighted the success of fire safety officers from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), who rescued 376 victims and preserved property valued at N152.22 billion.
In collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment, the ministry has also worked to improve the conditions of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) temporary orientation camp (Youth Hostel) at Iyana-Ipaja. Oyerinde mentioned the implementation of an electronic clearance system to streamline the NYSC clearance process, reducing paperwork and easing the manual sorting of forms.
