The Oyo State House of Assembly says it is collaborating with the executive arm of government to curb the spate of fire outbreaks in the state.

Waheed Akintayo, chairman of the House Committee on Information, disclosed this in Friday’s interview with journalists in Ibadan.

According to Mr Akintayo, the legislative and executive arms of government are in one mind, working in tandem to swiftly check the situation.

“It’s a development that’s saddening whenever it happens. However, work has begun to put an end to it.

“We’re working assiduously to ensure that this menace is stopped. One of the governor’s priorities this year is safeguarding lives and property, and I know he’s not relenting on this,” he said.

The lawmakers, on February 18, raised concerns over the situation following a motion by Sanjo Adedoyin (PDP-Ogbomoso South).

Mr Adedoyin, the house leader, highlighted the alarming rise in fire disasters and the inadequacies of the state fire services’ response system.

“Businesses suffer massive financial losses while victims struggle to rebuild their livelihoods.

“The emission of toxic fumes from burning materials poses serious environmental and public health risks,” Mr Adedoyin said during his submission.

The legislators said many areas in Oyo State lack proper fire safety infrastructure, including fire extinguishers, alarms, and hydrants.

They also noted the poor condition of the Oyo State Fire Service Agency, citing issues such as outdated firefighting trucks, inadequate funding, and a shortage of trained personnel.

To resolve the matter, the House, among other efforts, called for the expansion of fire stations and public awareness campaigns.

Other measures raised include the improvement of funding for fire services and enhancing training programmes such as capacity-building workshops and training sessions for firefighters.

The lawmakers emphasised that unless proactive steps were taken, fire outbreaks would continue to escalate, leading to avoidable loss of lives and economic hardship.

They warned that inadequate fire safety measures could discourage investment in key sectors like trade and real estate.

On the resolutions reached over the motion, Mr Akintayo said they were immediately forwarded to the governor for immediate action.

“We’ve put into writing what we believe can/should be done to stop fire outbreaks, and we believe that the governor is already working on it,” he said.

No fewer than 80 fire incidents were recorded by the Oyo State Fire Services Agency, with three deaths between January 2025 to date.

(NAN)