In 2024 alone, the Federal Fire Service, FFS, reported that Nigeria lost approximately 100 lives and properties worth N67.1 billion to various fire incidents. Although Abdulganiyu Jaji, Controller General of the FFS, highlighted that while the service successfully saved properties valued at N1.94 trillion and rescued 30,890 lives, the fatalities and economic losses underscore the critical need for enhanced fire safety measures.
In March, 2024, a diesel explosion at the residence of Abubakar Musa, a judge of the Federal High Court, killed three persons, a welder and his two apprentices.
According to reports, the explosion occurred when the welder was sealing a leaking diesel container.
Just recently, a fire outbreak in Abuja claimed the life of a five-year-old girl and destroyed properties worth millions of naira.
It was gathered that the fire had razed several rooms on the first floor of the one-storey building leaving only charred remains of household items as evidence of its devastation.
In the last six months, there have been several reports of sporadic fire outbreaks across the country. In Lagos State, for example, the Fire and Rescue Service said that the state witnessed 1,085 incidences of fire outbreaks in the first half of 2024.
“The fire destroyed shops, shanties in Lagos. Local media reports are quoted as saying that “millions were lost as fire razed Lagos spare parts market. Apart from the fire outbreaks in Lagos, there were cases of fire outbreaks in other states of the country and Abuja.
According to the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, fire outbreaks have become part of a significant cause of deaths, loss of property, and environmental degradation in the country.
NEMA also observed that over 90 per cent of fire outbreaks in Nigeria are caused by human negligence and emphasized the importance of public awareness and adherence to safety protocols.
This sentiment was also echoed by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, LSFRS, which attended to 11 market-related fire outbreaks between January and November 2023, attributing many of these incidents to negligence.
Beyond the immediate human and economic costs, fire outbreaks contribute to environmental challenges, notably the emission of carbon dioxide, CO₂, and other greenhouse gases.
While specific data on CO₂ emissions from fire outbreaks in Nigeria is limited, it is well-established that uncontrolled fires such as wildfires, industrial fires, and even tanker explosions; which has become very common, can release significant amounts of CO₂ into the atmosphere. This not only exacerbates climate change, but also degrades air quality, posing health risks to the population and contributing to global warming
Addressing the dual challenges of fire outbreaks and the environmental impact requires a multifaceted approach necessitating the FFS to call for stricter adherence to safety protocols, especially during the harmattan season when the risk of fire is heightened due to low humidity. The Controller-General of the FFS, Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji also urged operators of fuel stations, gas refilling plants, and users of gas cylinders to follow safety regulations diligently to prevent avoidable disasters.
Furthermore, there is a pressing need for public education campaigns to raise awareness about fire prevention and the environmental consequences of fires. Implementing and enforcing stringent safety regulations, improving infrastructure, and investing in modern firefighting equipment are essential steps toward mitigating the occurrence and impact of fire outbreaks in Nigeria.
Lack of modern fire fighting infrastructure and delayed emergency response from fire fighters are also matters that must be addressed by relevant authorities.
While these are very germane concerns in the south, in the north-east of Nigeria, the increasing fire outbreak incidents in IDP camp settings continue to exacerbate the already overstretched humanitarian responses, further increasing the vulnerability of the affected population.
A CCCM, Shelter/NFI Sector – Fire Incidents Report, revealed that between January and June 2024, 97 reported fire outbreaks affected a total of 12,376 (HHs), representing 59,037 individuals across 32 IDP sites in Borno State.
“About 32 causalities were reported during these incidents. The fire incident destroyed 11,639 shelters (emergency or self-made/makeshift units), with most of the affected population losing their belongings, including registration, food ration, and/or biometric identification cards, and food and non-food items.
“The fire outbreaks exacerbated the humanitarian needs for 53,627 individuals, mainly women and children, being exposed to further undignified living conditions like sleeping in open or crowded spaces, which expose them to health risks.
The report said that there was an Immediate need for camp coordination and management services such as site facilitation and coordination services, information management sharing and dissemination, and site environment and infrastructure maintenance and improvement work in the temporary settlements following the fire outbreak incidents, as well as creation of new/replacement of fire stations.
“Non-Food Items (NFI): Over 79 per cent of the IDPs lost all their NFIs to the fire, thus exposing them to difficult living conditions in overcrowded spaces. Out of the 16,331 HH affected by fire, 14,864 HHs urgently need NFIs such as mattresses, blankets, and hygiene kits. The lack of access to hygiene materials (soap, handwashing facilities) poses a health risk to the displaced fire-affected population.
“Shelter: There are shelter needs for 10,077 households affected by the fire incidents
“WASH: Needs for WASH facilities across the affected sites,” the report added.
• Out of 11,394 households affected by fire only 1,382 HH have received shelter support from partners in Monguno, Jere and Magumeri, the current shelter gap stands at 10,077 households.
• Out of 16,331 households that lost NFIs, only 1,468 HHs received NFI response, putting the current NFI response gap at 14,864 households.
• The CCCM, Shelter, and NFI, aalbeit with a low response attributed to funding constraints among partners. The Sector continues to advocate for response to affected familities.
Protection and Gender-Based Violence remain key concerns. (Data sources: Sector Partners, Site Tracker, Incident Tracking Tool – Updated: July 15th, 2024)”
In conclusion, fire outbreaks in Nigeria present a significant threat to human life, property and the environment. By acknowledging the role of human negligence and understanding the environmental implications, particularly concerning CO₂ emissions, Nigeria can develop and implement effective strategies to reduce fire incidents and their far-reaching consequences.
