It is disheartening that fire has affected one of the frontline banks in Lagos. The incident happened at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island and Emab Plaza, located behind the popular Mandilas building on Taiwo Street, Lagos Island. While the incident was unexpected, it raises questions about our preparedness for emergencies. Even minor fire incidents can cause property damage worth billions of Naira, lead to untimely deaths, and result in varying degrees of injuries. For instance, the recent fire on Lagos Island resulted in the loss of property and numerous injuries.
Governments at all levels must invest in measures to prevent fire incidents. It has been suggested that fire stations be established in every political ward, equipped with at least one or two functional firefighting vehicles and staffed by well-trained officials ready to respond to emergencies.
In the past, emergency response times for fire incidents in Lagos were under five minutes. However, it seems that the Lagos State Fire Service and Rescue and Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, LASEMA have been overwhelmed in responding to fire incidents. The Safety Arena in Bolade, inaugurated under Governor Akinwumi Ambode has to reactivated to promptly responded, and the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency response centres at CAPPA, Onipanu that once viewed as highly effective, seems to be losing its urgency.
The Lagos State Government needs to be more proactive and ensure that the necessary agencies are adequately equipped to handle fire incidents as they occur. Last year, the Broadcasting House of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria in Lagos Operations, Ikoyi, was devastated by a fire. Despite the quick response, the firefighters faced a significant setback due to insufficient water in their tanks, which resulted in substantial losses for the organisation. The management had to mobilise all available resources to extinguish the fire within a few hours after the incident. It is essential to remember that proactive measures are crucial for effective fire management.
Providing adequate funding for firefighting organisations would significantly reduce the loss of property and lives. Additionally, it would be beneficial if local government areas collaborated with the state government to establish and equip fire stations in their communities.
Furthermore, non-governmental organisations and generous individuals should join forces with both the federal and state governments to supply the necessary resources to build more fire stations and acquire facilities that can effectively address fire incidents.
Business organisations and multinational companies should invest in fire prevention equipment to reduce the incidence of fires as demonstrated in the past. There are numerous fire prevention and alert tools available, and having them readily accessible can be crucial in case of an emergency. Our government enforcement agencies, such as the Standards Organisation of Nigeria, SON, need to strengthen their monitoring and enforcement of building materials, particularly concerning housing wiring. The prevalence of substandard materials is one of the factors contributing to fire outbreaks in homes, and there is an abundance of low-quality wires and cables in our market.
As responsible citizens, we must be mindful of our actions, particularly in how we handle flammable objects. It’s essential to treat these materials with care and develop the habit of turning off our electrical devices to prevent fires. We should avoid storing petroleum products at home for convenience, we must adhere to international standards when operating our generators, which includes refraining from filling the fuel tank while the generator is running. Developers and property owners must prioritise the use of quality materials to safeguard their properties against fire hazards.
Nigerians are a resilient people with innovative ideas. The sense of community among Nigerians is strong; let’s maintain this spirit by being supportive neighbours. We should collaborate with emergency responders to effectively manage emergencies. One way to show support is by providing firefighters and other emergency personnel with the space they need to perform their duties and help victims. It is important to discourage the use of social media to spread information during emergencies, particularly when it comes to posting about victims who are struggling for survival.
Emergency responders often face challenges with crowd control during fires. Our security agencies should be deployed to emergency scenes to maintain law and order and prevent theft of the property belonging to those affected.