Recently, fires razing markets, shopping plazas, multi-storey buildings, among others have become a recurring incident across several states in Nigeria.
In the past weeks, the blaze has not only erased livelihoods built over years but also led to the loss of lives.
On Christmas Eve, last year, the iconic 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street in the Lagos Island’s business district caught fire.
The Arena Shopping Mall in Oshodi, Lagos and consumed millions of naira worth of goods across many shops.
Within 24 hours, yet another fire outbreak was reported in the Ikotun area.
A separate fire outbreak was reported on 20 December at the Federal Inland Revenue Service office complex at No. 15 Sokode Crescent, in Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. The inferno affected offices on an upper floor, although no casualties were reported.
Other states have also recorded a disturbing pattern of similar incidents
Despite the absence of the seasonal harmattan, which had been blamed for the rapid spread of past fires, the weather has been hot and humid as intermittent rains have unusually persisted in December and January so far.
Preventing fire hazards in Nigeria is achievable with the right mix of awareness, compliance, and reliable infrastructure.
Various factors such as power outages, power surges, electrical sparks, illegal electricity connections, improper electrical fittings, substandard building materials, and defective or indoor use of generators, others can contribute to fire outbreak.
Fire outbreak can be avoided, if all precautionary measures are strictly adhered to.
Also, the engaging professional electrical technicians in running most of the electrical appliances in our homes and facilities will drastically reduce incidents of fire outbreak.
Overloading circuits by plugging in too many appliances into a single socket or outlet can cause overheating, leading to fire outbreak.
Older homes with outdated wiring systems are particularly susceptible to this. Poorly installed or outdated wiring can also cause electrical fire. Old wiring can wear out and crack, leading to exposed wires that can ignite nearby materials.
Do not use phones in the kitchen: In this era of phone and social media, many people go into the kitchen with their phones. The temptations are many. For one, an incoming call may provide a distraction too costly.
Keep the candle on a candle stand: We put candles and leave them beside curtains or clothes or even on tables made from wood. The candle may fall off or a nearby object may get burned.
Always put off appliances when not in use: For those who go to work, put off all appliances at home to avoid voltage surge that may follow when power is restored after an outage. The same applies for the office when leaving.
When fire breaks out, survival depends on the first few moments.
Evacuate quickly, stay low if there’s smoke, and never use elevators.
Alert others, call emergency services from a safe distance, and know how to act if escape is impossible.
Smoke detectors are essential in alerting one in case of any fire incidence. One should ensure that smoke detectors are functioning properly and should replace the batteries regularly.
Cases of fire outbreaks in major cities in Nigeria have become worrisome. A fire outbreak in a public building sometimes occurs in the finance and administrative sectors. Pessimists will quickly conclude that such a fire outbreak was aimed at covering a financial crime. Fire outbreaks become personal when a house, market or even worship place as recently witnessed in Christ Embassy. People feel it will never happen to them and neglect to procure something as small as smoke detectors and other appliances that warn of imminent fire incidence. In this report, Assistant Editor, OKWY IROEGBU-CHIKEZIE, spoke to experts on the way out.
There is no smoke without fire has long been a common parlance; though a trite one. Indeed, there is hardly a fire outbreak without initial smoke signaling what is about to happen. Some people have helplessly watched their houses or shops burnt down either because they were confused about what to do or help didn’t come on time.
A significant part of the church building of Believers’ Loveworld also known as Christ Embassy in Oregun, Ikeja was recently engulfed by fire.
The founder of the church, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome was said to have given the incident a spiritual interpretation as he was quoted to have said: “The fire incident was beyond the ordinary; but of a celestial and spiritual nature. When something like this happens, we look at what God thinks; He just allows us to do something about it. What are we going to do? The house of God has been burnt down; we clear the place and build a better and more beautiful one. That’s what we’re going to do.
“Let the devil lick his wound. We must look at life from the spiritual. This is not an accident because we’re not ordinary people; we’re always helped. He told us even when we walk; we’ll not hit our foot on the stone because He gives His angels charge over us. Everything that happens in life is a plan.”
Most members interviewed by The Nation were of the same notion; Mrs. Adanma Apia, Yetunde Ilori and Pastor Sola Osunmakinde also corroborated the fact that the acoustic in the auditorium is such that except you come into the auditorium of the Church, you will not know that a large congregation is inside.
He added that Pastor Oyakhilome took time to make provision for smoke detectors, fire hydrants and everything needed to prevent fire, each of them maintained that the fire was not ordinary.
The 2016 World Life Expectancy Report ranked Nigeria first in the global rating of deaths resulting from fire outbreaks. “It is time questions were asked as to whether Nigerian communities are literally on fire,” the report noted.
Fire incidents have become a rising source of concern for Nigerians, notably the frequent occurrences of market fires.
These fire incidents have resulted in the loss of life and property, as well as imposed financial hardship on victims.
Livelihoods are jeopardised; with billions of naira worth of goods destroyed, leaving people jobless and hopeless.
According to media report, over 50 fire outbreaks were recorded in different markets across Nigeria between November 2020 and August 2021.
The markets that were engulfed in fire included those in Lagos, Ibadan, Abuja, Sokoto, Kano and Edo.
Also in the report, from November 2019 to 2022, the famed Balogun Market in Lagos, for example, witnessed six fire outbreaks.
The Maiduguri Central Market, known as the Monday Market, caught fire in February 2022. Also, the largest grain market Gamboru went up in flames in March.
Three fire outbreaks in Singer, Kurmi and Rimi occurred in Kano markets in March. Also, most fire outbreaks have occurred in state facilities that are of strategic value to the country, thereby making fire an issue of public concern.
About four years ago, Treasury House, a building housing the office of the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) was gutted by fire. A week later, the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) headquarters in Maitama, Abuja was also gutted by fire. Also, the headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the popular Dugbe Market in Ibadan were the next to record a fire outbreak just two days after that of the CAC.
The month of May was not an exception as it was reported that fire destroyed two IDP camps in Borno State, the popular Ogbeogonogo Market in Asaba and Oloyele Market in Somolu, Lagos and latest in June this year was the massive fire outbreak on the headquarters of Christ Embassy Church in Ikeja with all its sophistication and fire hydrants.
These and many more point to the fact that every state in Nigeria is vulnerable to the impacts of fire incidences.
Experts attribute this to various factors such as power outages, power surges, electrical sparks, illegal electricity connections, improper electrical fittings, substandard building materials, and defective or indoor use of generators.
Other factors include storing adulterated fuel at home and siting petrol and gas stations near residential and marketplaces. Besides, inaccessibility to most residential areas and market places when there is a fire outbreak also compounds the problem.
This is not nconnected with the chaotic nature of roads and the unplanned environment of most Nigerian cities. Another major factor contributing to the increase in the occurrence of fire outbreaks is the total neglect of fire safety measures during the design and construction phases of structures. Likewise, public or private buildings with fire extinguishers, fire and smoke detectors, fire exits, warning signs and designated assemble fire points are hard to come by.
The Managing Director of Nigeria Electricity Management Services Agency (NEMSA), Aliyu Tahir said: “Most fire incidents are caused by the activities of unqualified and uncertified electricians. He said the agency was set up to certify electrical personnel that are engaged for installation nationwide to ensure that quackery in installation works is drastically reduced. There is the need to ensure the removal of substandard materials and equipment in all the markets in the country.”
Fire outbreak can be avoided, if all precautionary measures are strictly adhered to. Also, the engaging professional electrical technicians in running most of the electrical appliances in our homes and facilities will drastically reduce incidents of fire outbreak.
Reeling off other reasons fire outbreaks occur, Tamara Ebie, an expert in fire safety said unattended cooking is one of the primary causes of kitchen fires. Leaving a stove or oven unattended to can cause food to burn and trigger fire outbreak. Others, according to him, are grease build-up on cooking appliances over time. If not cleaned regularly, the grease can ignite or cause a fire outbreak.
He said: “Placing combustible items such as wooden utensils and paper towels near the stove or oven can ignite and cause fire. Faulty appliances can cause fire, and this is more likely to happen if the appliances are old, damaged or not used properly.
On prevention strategies, he said it is essential to ensure that one raises an alarm or quickly take action if anything goes wrong. He also stated that there was the need to keep the area around the stove or oven clear of combustible items such as paper towels, dishcloths or wooden utensils.
He advised that the stove and oven should be cleaned regularly to avoid grease build-up, which can ignite and cause fire.
He harped on the need to keep fire extinguisher in the kitchen and knowing how to use it. According to him, having a fire extinguisher in the kitchen can be a lifesaver in case of fire outbreak.
According to him there is a need to always keep watch on the smoke detectors.
“Smoke detectors are essential in alerting one in case of any fire incidence. One should ensure that smoke detectors are functioning properly and should replace the batteries regularly. Also, there is the need to read the instruction manual for cooking appliances and use them correctly as this will reduce the risk of fire caused by a faulty appliance.
Electrical fire are another leading cause of outbreak in houses which can start from a variety of sources, including faulty electrical appliances, overloaded circuits, faulty wiring and poor electrical maintenance,” he said.
Emphasising thorough check on faulty electrical appliances, Ebie said that appliances can become faulty over time due to wear and tear or poor maintenance; causing them to overheat and ignite nearby materials, leading to fire outbreaks.
For Lucky Igbinoba, an Engineer, overloading circuits by plugging in too many appliances into a single socket or outlet can cause overheating, leading to fire outbreak. Older homes with outdated wiring systems are particularly susceptible to this. Poorly installed or outdated wiring can also cause electrical fire. Old wiring can wear out and crack, leading to exposed wires that can ignite nearby materials.
He emphasised the need to avoid plugging too many appliances into a single socket. He further advised that owners of old buildings and old wires should consider having it replaced with newer, safer wiring as it can help prevent electrical fire caused by worn-out or damaged wiring.
He noted that in our clime where there are a lot of fake and substandard electrical materials, leaving our gas or electrical appliances unattended may likely cause much harm as most cables and wires cannot stand high voltage.
On prevention strategies, Igbinoba recommended regular electrical maintenance.
His words: It is crucial to have a qualified electrician inspect one’s electrical system regularly, especially if one’s property is old. High-quality products that have been tested and certified by reputable agencies and regular maintenance can identify potential hazards and allow for timely repairs, thereby preventing electrical fire.
“Turn off appliances and unplug them when not in use. This can help prevent overheating and overloading circuits, which can lead to electrical fire.
“Another common cause of house fire outbreaks is smoking. Cigarettes and cigars, among others, are capable of causing fire outbreaks; resulting in significant damage and even loss of life. It is essential to understand the hazards of smoking and to implement preventive measures to ensure the safety of houses and their surroundings.”
He also stated that fire disasters can also come through the bathroom and the need to take caution. Igbinoba advised on the need to use heaters with automatic shut-off.
According to him, it is essential to use heaters with an automatic shut-off feature as it will ensure that the heater turns off if it overheats. This will reduce the risk of fire outbreaks.
He said: “It is important never to leave a heater unattended to, especially if there are children around. If leaving the room, turn off the heater and unplug it. Heaters should be placed on a stable surface that is not easily tipped over. This reduces the risk of the heater falling and causing a fire outbreak.
“Regular maintenance of heaters is essential to reduce the risk of fire outbreaks. Heaters should be inspected and cleaned regularly, and any faulty components should be repaired or replaced immediately.”
Alternative energy sources, improved safety standards and better infrastructure can avert fire outbreaks such as ones that rocked markets in Lagos and Cross River.
Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour gave the advice while visiting the scene of a fire outbreak at Idumota in Lagos.
About 14 buildings were affected on April 9, by a fire outbreak on Dosumu Idumota Street on Lagos Island, the second in the market in three weeks, while another fire at Ikom Main Market Cross River State and a fuel tanker fire same day killed one person and destroyed over 640 shops and 39 motorcycles.
“There is need to invest in alternative energy in major markets to complement what is obtainable. We should not have major markets powered with thousands of small generators that pose risks of fire outbreaks, environmental pollution, and health challenges,” he said.
Rhodes-Vivour, Labour Party’s 2023 governorship candidate in Lagos, called for a probe into incidents, particularly the ones at Idumota, saying they destroyed billions in property damage.
He said: “There must be a thorough investigation to establish the cause of the fire outbreak and such findings should be made public. This investigation will help the state to prevent a reccurrence and dispel the notion some of these accidents are carefully planned to take over landed property and sell off to cronies.”
He blamed Lagos fires partly on poor city planning and abuse of safety standards, among others.
“But for a lack of proper city planning that prevented fire fighters from accessing the burning buildings, the damage and destruction would have been limited,” Rhodes-Vivour added.
He further canvassed health and safety standards that are collectively enforced, for markets.
He said: “These may not necessarily eliminate the occurrence of an accident but will surely reduce the possibility drastically. And in such instances where these accidents do occur, the outbreak can be better managed and the damage limited.”
