Lagos Warns Against Fake Emergency Calls As Prank Reports Hit 16.39m

The Lagos State Government has warned residents against making fake emergency calls to the state’s Command and Control Centre, saying the rising abuse of emergency lines is undermining rapid response to genuine distress situations.

The warning was issued on Monday during the 2026 Ministerial Press Briefing held in Ikeja, as part of activities marking seven years of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration.

Speaking at the briefing, Commissioner for Special Duties, Olugbenga Oyerinde, described the growing trend of prank and fake calls as alarming and dangerous to public safety.

He disclosed that the Command and Control Centre received 24.15 million calls between January 2025 and April 2026, out of which 16.39 million were identified as fake or unnecessary calls.

“It is disturbing that people call simply to test whether our lines work. Our lines work, but every wasted minute can cost lives,” Oyerinde said.

According to him, the prank calls accounted for about 67.9 per cent of all incoming calls, stressing that the situation continues to disrupt emergency response operations across Lagos State.

He explained that emergency operators often struggle to separate genuine distress calls from false reports, warning that delays caused by prank calls could worsen incidents such as fire outbreaks, road accidents and medical emergencies.

Oyerinde urged parents, schools and community leaders to sensitise young people on the importance of responsible use of emergency lines, stressing that emergency communication must be treated as a critical public safety tool.

Also speaking, the General Manager of the Command and Control Centre, Femi Kennedy-Giwa, said operators frequently receive repeated prank calls from the same phone numbers, a development he said affects efficiency and public confidence in the system.

He further disclosed that fire outbreaks remained the most common emergencies recorded in 2025, adding that emergency responders rescued 1,924 victims alive and saved properties worth N118.32 billion, while the government continues to expand emergency infrastructure and safety enforcement across the state.