Lagos Warns Against Fake Emergency Calls Amid Crisis

The Lagos State Government has issued a warning to residents regarding the increasing trend of fake emergency calls, which significantly undermine the rapid response to genuine emergencies. During a press briefing on Monday, Olugbenga Oyerind, the Commissioner for Special Duties, revealed that from January 2025 to April 2026, a total of 24.15 million calls were received, with 16.39 million identified as fake, representing 67.9%.

This misuse of emergency lines not only wastes resources but also delays responses to real emergencies, which can cost lives. Femi Kennedy Giwa, the General Manager of the Command Control Centre, expressed concerns over the impact of prank calls on public confidence in emergency services.

The government is intensifying public awareness campaigns to educate young people on the seriousness of emergency calls. In 2025, Lagos recorded 1,972 genuine emergencies, with significant incidents including 1,685 fire cases.

The government is also enhancing emergency response infrastructure, including the procurement of firefighting vehicles and the completion of new fire stations.