Enforcing The Fire Safety Code

The recent pronouncement made by
the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Mr Olusegun Okebiorun to
the effect that the National Fire Safety Code would be enforced nationwide
without delay is a welcome development .

Although
the directive is long overdue , it is in the right direction as within a very
short period, fire razed  down buildings
in Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt among others. In addition to unquatified losses,
some people also lost their lives. In Rivers State, The Tide also lost
part of its building to fire, while the Secretarial Complex and the Ikoku
Market among others were affected by fire.

According
to the statement in Abuja, the directive for the implementation of the Fire
Safety Code has already been  issued down
the ladder to ensure the reduction of fire incidents long ago. The expectation
is for the safety code to  be
enforced  in all public buildingS as
contained in the Federal Government’s circular, Ref. No. SGF 6/S.18/VII/907,
2012.

By
that circular, federal and State fire services should have commenced the
enforcement of the code without any let. Indeed, every structure should have a
fire plan and support facilities.

We
think that the enforcement of the Fire Safety Code is long overdue. It is
however, sad that officials responsible for its enforcement failed to do much
until there was a number of avoidable losses across the country.

Fire
is about one of the most dangerous elements that should not be taken for
granted. It is one thing that is capable of destroying nearly everything. In
fact, experts believe that any house or vehicle without a fire extinguisher is
a danger waiting to happen.

The
Tide is
worried at the inability of governments at the various levels to effectively
operate the National Fire Safety Code since its inception decades ago. This
negligeance has cost the nation colossal losses both in human and material
assets.

While
we expect that the enforcement of the Fire Safety Code would not be limited to
public buildings, the ordinary Nigerian knows very little about the code or who
is to enforce it. Clearly, massive enlightenment on the subject has become  rather imperative across the country. Indeed,
every citizen should be a fire fighter.

The
Tide believes
that there is urgent need for state directors of fire services to step up fire
awareness campaigns in their areas of responsibility, but we also think more
commitment is needed in the area of improving existing infrastructure and
establishment of new ones to meet the ever increasing urbanisation challenge in
Nigeria.

We
must demand that offices, homes and business places are assisted to acquire
fire fighting devices and taught how best such devices can be handled in the
event of fire out-break. There should also be strict compliance to the code as
it affects the erection of structures in public and private places. As a matter
of importance, no house should be approved unless fire safety inputs are
included.

Nigerians
should, as a matter of urgency be educated on the quality of electrical gadgets
they buy and  stop over-loading of
sockets, turn off all electrical gadgets at the close of work and stop bush
burning for hunting or farm clearing that can spread to other areas including
houses ,

The
authorities should ensure that agencies of governments at all levels review the
location of fuel stations and tanks as some are too close to residential areas.
In fact, people should not be allowed to store combustible substances in jerry
cans or sell same without the requisite licencing, training and approved
site. 

The
Tide
thinks that the time has come for governments across the country to expand
their fire fighting facilities and capabilities. Indeed, the upgrading of fire
fighting  equipment has become
imperative.

We challenge officials responsible for the
enforcement of the Fire Safety Code to swing
into action with immediate effect and
attract the political will to make fire a rare reoccurrence in Nigeria.
This is the only way we can collectively reduce to the barest minimum the huge
losses of lives and property to fire in this country.