Why Risks Of Electric Fire Are Increasing In Lagos - Manager, Schneider Electric West Africa

Rapid urban development and expanding high-rise infrastructure in Lagos are increasing the risk of electrical fires, according to Schneider Electric, which is calling for stronger integration of fire safety into electrical system design.

Offer Manager for Power Products at Schneider Electric West Africa, Opeyemi Olaniyan, said in an opinion piece to The PUNCH that fire safety must no longer be treated as a compliance requirement but as a foundational element of electrical infrastructure design.

He warned that as industrialisation and urbanisation accelerate across West Africa, electrical systems are becoming more complex and exposed to higher risks, particularly fire-related incidents.

“The safety of electrical infrastructure is non-negotiable, particularly in a time when industrialisation and urbanisation in West Africa require reliable and efficient power provision,” Olaniyan stated.

“As systems expand in scale and complexity, one critical risk demands greater attention: electrical fires.”

The executive said the consequences of poor fire safety design go beyond asset damage, noting that failures can trigger operational disruptions, reputational damage, higher insurance costs, and loss of life.

Lagos, home to Africa’s fastest-growing skyline, has seen rapid expansion in commercial buildings and residential towers, a development he said is increasing exposure to electrical fire hazards. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service records hundreds of fire outbreaks annually, many in commercial and multi-storey structures.

Olaniyan said traditional fire protection systems that rely on isolated components or reactive responses are no longer sufficient for modern infrastructure demands.

Instead, he called for integrated and intelligent electrical systems that embed fire mitigation into both low-voltage and medium-voltage distribution networks from the design stage.

He outlined key features of modern systems to include real-time monitoring of temperature and humidity, early fault detection mechanisms, integrated protection systems, and proactive prevention tools designed to reduce downtime and economic losses.

He also stressed the importance of synchronising protection mechanisms across entire distribution networks to improve resilience and responsiveness.

Beyond technology, Olaniyan highlighted the need for stronger technical capacity across the sector, including engineers, contractors, and system integrators.

He said building an ecosystem of expertise through training and knowledge transfer is essential to improving the quality and consistency of electrical installations.

At Schneider Electric, he said, emphasis is placed on upskilling both internal teams and channel partners to strengthen understanding of system integration and fire safety practices.

Recent fire incidents in commercial facilities across West Africa, including the 2024 Afriland Tower fire in Lagos that claimed seven lives, have intensified calls for preventive electrical design and monitoring, he added.

Olaniyan said such incidents are driving greater awareness and accelerating investment in fire mitigation technologies.

He said West Africa’s infrastructure growth must be matched with resilient electrical systems designed to prevent disasters before they occur.

“Prevention strategies and technologies must form the cornerstone on which our fast-paced industrial development is built,” he noted.

Culled from the Punch 

Categories: Energy And Power