The Lagos State Government has approved the recruitment of 150 additional personnel into the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS), reinforcing ongoing efforts to improve emergency response and public safety across the state.

The approval was announced by the Controller General of the LSFRS, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, during the flag-off of the Squad 23 training programme at Ikeja. She explained that the new intake forms part of a broader strategy by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration to strengthen manpower, professionalism and operational readiness within the state’s fire and rescue system.

According to Adeseye, the newly recruited officers—made up of able-bodied men and women—were employed in late 2025 and have since commenced structured training at the upgraded Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service Academy. The programme includes professional basic firefighting competency modules and short service courses designed to align the officers with international emergency response standards.

She noted that the latest recruitment builds on previous investments by the state government in expanding the fire service workforce. In 2020, 100 firefighters were recruited to reinforce frontline response during the COVID-19 period. This was followed by a historic intake of 435 firefighters in 2022—the largest single recruitment in the service’s history.

That milestone year also witnessed significant infrastructural upgrades, including the commissioning of new fire stations in Ajegunle, Ebute Elefun and Oba Oniru in Lekki, alongside the unveiling of a modern headquarters at Alausa, Ikeja. In addition, 62 fire-fighting vehicles were introduced to improve coverage across urban and peri-urban areas of Lagos.

Mrs Adeseye emphasised that sustained investment in personnel training, equipment and infrastructure remains central to the state’s safety agenda.

“The Lagos State Government continues to demonstrate strong commitment to protecting lives, property and the environment by prioritising capacity building and operational efficiency within the Fire and Rescue Service,” she said.

She added that the ongoing training of Squad 23 is expected to further enhance response time and effectiveness, particularly in densely populated and fast-growing corridors of the state.