Eighteen months after Governor Dapo Abiodun commissioned the Agbara Fire Service Station in Ogun State, the facility remains inoperative. Despite being touted as a critical addition to support the Agbara, Lusada, and Igbesa areas, the station has not commenced operations, leaving the community reliant on a private company’s fire services.
Residents have experienced multiple fire incidents since the station’s commissioning. Notably, in February 2024, Kayode Oluwasegun almost lost his properties to a fire, but a private company with an active fire service department came to his rescue. Similarly, in November 2023, another family’s property at Katsina Close, Agbara Estate, was saved by the same private company. Over the past year, this private company, Nestle, has been a vital resource, responding swiftly to fire outbreaks in the area.
The fire station, inaugurated on February 1, 2023, was one of four new fire service stations announced by the state government, with others located in Ifo, Mowe, and Ibafo. At the inauguration, Governor Abiodun emphasized the necessity of the station for Agbara and Ifo due to their population and proximity to Lagos. However, the station was inaugurated with only one fire truck and no ambulance, falling short of the promises made.
The facility, meant to complement the ongoing construction of the 19-kilometer Agbara-Atan road, remains locked and covered in dust and weeds. Officials from the Ogun State Traffic Compliance and Enforcement Agency (TRACE) confirmed that the station has not been operational since its inauguration, and they have not seen any fire fighting equipment on the premises.
When questioned about the inactivity of the fire station, the state Commissioner for Special Duties and Government Affairs, Olufunmilayo Efuwape, directed inquiries to the state’s Director of Fire Service, Fatai Adefala, who refused to provide information. The commissioner noted that firefighters were recently employed and are still under training.
Residents, including Odunsi Saheed and Tunde Badmus, expressed their disappointment and frustration, emphasizing the need for a functional fire service station in a community with a growing population and numerous companies. They appealed to the state government to equip and operationalize the fire station to prevent further losses from fire incidents.