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The General Manager of the Lagos State Emergency Command and Control Centre, Femi Giwa, disclosed that the agency received more than 12 million ‘nuisance’ calls in 2025.
“In 2025 alone, we recorded over 12 million nuisance calls and more than three million abandoned calls. These calls consume valuable time meant for genuine emergencies and, in some cases, delay life-saving interventions,” Giwa said in an interview with NAN.
LASECC operates Lagos State’s emergency hotlines, receiving calls for police, fire, medical, and other emergencies.
When the Co-founder and Chief Technology Officer (CTO) of Nigerian retail automation startup Bumpa, Adetunji Opaley, passed away after a tragic accident in 2025, and when a fire gutted Afriland Towers in Lagos that year, many Nigerians called for improved emergency response times in Lagos and other states during emergencies.
But Giwa said the volume of prank and false calls the agency receives hampers effective emergency response.
“When a call comes in, our agents process and escalate the information within two minutes to the relevant agency for dispatch. However, when the lines are tied up with prank calls, it becomes difficult for those in real distress to get through promptly,” he added.
Giwa also said these false distress calls often lead to unnecessary deployment of ambulances, fire trucks and security personnel, thereby diverting resources from actual incidents.
He further appealed to Lagos residents to desist from prank, test or abusive calls and use the emergency lines responsibly.
He described the misuse of emergency numbers as harmful and potentially life-threatening.
“We urge residents to be responsible and allow the system to function effectively for everyone. When you see something, say something, but be responsible. The misuse of emergency lines can cost lives,” he added.
