1,675 buildings destroyed in South West in four months- NEMA

The National Emergency Management Agency has said no fewer than 1, 657 buildings were severely damaged in different disasters in the South West region of the country in four months.

About 23 people also lost their lives in the disasters, among which were seven children.

A statement on Sunday by the NEMA spokesperson, South West zone, Ibrahim Farinloye, stated that a total of 200 fire disasters were recorded from March to June, 2015.


It said, “A total of 1,675 houses and 213 shops, were affected by fire and windstorms disasters.

“We also recorded one suicide attempt and one suicide; one person who climbed a television mast was rescued, while one had died before help could reach him. Ten persons suffered various degree of injuries in the period under review.

“Two hundred fire disasters and several others were handled by the efficient firemen of the Lagos State Fire Service, who have been making effective use of the state-of-the art fire appliances acquired by the state government to attend to fire calls daily.”

The statement added that Lagos State had the highest record of destroyed buildings.

It said while 989 houses and 219 shops were destroyed in Lagos by windstorm and fire disasters, Oyo State had a record of 430 houses ravaged during the period.

In Ogun State, 280 houses and 85 shops were said to have been severely damaged by the disasters.

NEMA said it provided relief materials to victims of the disasters through the state emergency agencies.

“NEMA is hereby appealing to Nigerians and corporate organisations to invest more in disaster risk reduction measures to secure their lives and property.

“There is also need for Nigerians to be more safety conscious in the course of their daily activities as fire disaster does not have any season when it occurs. Fire is a good friend if well-managed, and can cause extensive destructions if not properly managed,” the statement added.

The federal agency advised parents and guardians against leaving their children/wards in the hands of strangers, and urged caution in the use of candles.

It suggested that, as a safety precaution, Nigerians plant trees during the rainy season, “to serve as windbreak to reduce the alarming rate of windstorm disasters.”