Tag: Safety

The Fire Service is very important for public safety, but it is sorely neglected and treated as of little consequence, by most governments in Nigeria. The principal act establishing the Federal Fire Service for instance was enacted in 1963, according to the Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. However, the official web site of the Nigeria Federal Fire Service refers to a 1981 act, which is not assessable; and the Laws of the Federation did not also distinguish same. An examination of the provisions of the Act shows the lack of will by the federal government to modernize its Fire Service, despite her wish to be among the top 20 economies in 2020.

Notably since the invasion of petro-dollars in Nigeria, there has been massive, but haphazardly coordinated expansion in economic activities across the country. This development has made fire incidents a major source of danger to public safety and property. Examples include the reoccurring fire incidents at petrol loading bays, tank farms, pipelines and other similar sources. Again most of the poorly developed market clusters across the country annually go up in flames; while fire at multi-storey buildings, petro-chemical industries and crash sites always constitutes embarrassments to our outdated fire equipments. Perhaps the future biggest challenge for our dear country will be fire induced by terrorist weaponry and activities, in industrial areas and residential places.

The anachronistic federal fire laws, in section 35 of the Act for instance provides: “any person who unlawfully interferes with, damages, or removes any fire fighting equipment maintained by the Fire Service shall be guilty of an offence, and upon summary conviction thereof shall be liable to a fine not exceeding one hundred naira or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding three months, or to both such fine and imprisonment.” While it may be correct to say that the main challenge of the Fire Service is governmental neglect, the inadequacy of the existing laws clearly shows that governments need to be prodded to modernize the Fire Service.

Examining the neglect of the Fire Service by federal, state and local governments, any observant person who visits most fire stations in the country would shudder whether they are antique centers; since most of the fire engines are those left behind by the departed colonial masters. Indeed most of the vehicles at the fire stations are permanently demobilised, standing on stones as wheels. The fire stations usually painted in bright red colours are also inhospitable, operating without functional offices and modern telecommunication equipments. It may be shocking to note that most of these fire stations have dysfunctional public water mains, and yet water is the main instrument to fight fire.

A further examination of the Act again shows that the Minister of Interior has extensive powers over the affairs of the Federal Fire service. This I guess must be one of the reasons for its stunted growth. The Minister’s powers as provided in section 6 of the Act include, power to provide accommodation for Fire Service, its equipments and personnel. The Minister is also empowered to provide and maintain fire alarms, and wait for this, “to employ the Fire Service or use its equipment, outside Lagos”. The Minister in section 14 also has the powers to “take all reasonable measures for ensuring the provision of an adequate supply of water, and for securing that it will be available for use.” It further grants him power “for the provision at the expense of the Fire Service of fire hydrants or other sources of the supply of water at points to be indicated by the Fire Commissioner.”

The Minister in section 16 of the act has powers to make standing orders, after consultation with the Federal Civil Service Commission, with respect to any matter relating “to the organisation and administration of the Fire Service; to appointments to the Fire Service and to the promotion, transfer, discipline and control of members of the Fire Service; to the duties to be performed by members of the Fire Service and for their guidance in the discharge of those duties; with respect to the management and good government of fire station, training schools, recreation centers and canteens.” With the same Minister overseeing ‘more lucrative’ agencies such as the Immigration Services and until few years back, the Nigeria Customs Services, any surprise that the Fire Service was left to rot over the years, by the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Comparatively in better managed societies, the Fire Service is treated as a very important arm of government responsible for public safety. For instance during the attack on the World Trade Center in United States, otherwise known as 9/11; Fire Service personnel were the most celebrated defenders of America’s national safety and well being. With dilapidated and aged vehicles crawling to get to fire scenes in Nigeria in times of emergency, any wonder that our fire men are treated with disdain by the benefiting public. Governments at federal, state and local levels must also realize that a well trained fire man without the necessary equipments and kits is more of a nuisance at the fire scene and also a danger to himself.

The way forward is for federal and state governments to review their current Fire Acts, so as to establish modern Fire Services with dedicated personnel. Interestingly some states in the country are beginning to show greater interest in Fire Service. Lagos as usual is ahead on this, but needs to do more. The law should also insulate the Fire Service from the lethargic public civil service, and attract greater funding for well trained manpower, equipments, logistics and welfare for firemen. Expecting our firemen to effectively fight fires, without adequate equipments and personal protective kits is dubious.