Being a cosmopolitan city and the commercial nerve centre of Nigeria, incidence of fire disaster is not entirely a strange thing in Lagos. However, the spate of fire outbreaks recorded in the metropolis in recent times is becoming quite alarming. A few days ago, three fire outbreaks took place in the metropolis in one day. According to reports, no fewer than 21 vehicles and 44 stalls were razed following a spillage from a petrol tanker which fell off the Iyana-Ipaja Bridge in Lagos. The areas affected were Ipaja Road, where the tanker landed; Oremeji Street, Jafajo Street, Oki Street, Adebajo Street and some parts of the Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway. Same day, two other ugly fire incidents equally occurred overnight in Badagry and Ojo areas of the state. Though incidence of fire outbreak has become rather rampant, both within and outside the country of recent, it is, however, very scary considering the number of fire incidents that have occurred in quick succession across Lagos State in the last few weeks.
The cost of fire incidents is obviously enormous. It results in pains and deaths to victims, wastes time, money and other valuables, while it also damages equipment and structures. It is, therefore, for these reasons that it is disheartening to know that most fire disasters are not acts of God, as some would ignorantly want to affirm, but the products of human errors and carelessness. Indeed, most of the fire incidents could have been avoided if those that were involved had been more safety-conscious. It has been discovered, for instance, that a considerable number of fuel truck accidents that had resulted into fire outbreaks causing monumental losses in Lagos especially, were actually caused by the carelessness and recklessness of truck drivers.
Ideally, drivers of articulated vehicles ought to be careful and extremely conscious of the damage any slip on their part could cause in terms of human and material losses. But then, findings have shown that several carnages recorded on most roads across the country have been caused by their complicity. A recent research indicated that out of about 358 transport accidents recorded in Nigeria between 1999 and 2002, 70 per cent involved articulated trucks and heavy duty vehicles. The survey further shows that about 32 per cent of truck drivers are below 30 years and probably immature and inexperienced to handle such psychologically-demanding task.
Also, studies have equally confirmed that 62 per cent of fuel trucks involved in serious road mishaps that resulted into fire disasters were of poor quality which probably aided fire outbreaks whenever there was an accident. There are also reports that about 54 per cent of fuel-spilling that had led to fire outbreaks was as a result of negligence on the part of truck drivers.
For obvious reasons, Lagos will continue to attract articulated vehicles and trucks because of its prime socio-economic status. Lagos houses 22 industrial estates, 60 per cent of the nation’s industrial and commercial ventures, 70 per cent of national maritime cargos and consumes about 50 per cent of petroleum products in the country. Additionally, Lagos is home to about 2,000 industrial complexes and 10,000 commercial ventures. It accounts for over 80 per cent of international aviation traffic.
With all these indicators, it would be difficult, for now, to banish articulated vehicles and trucks on Lagos roads.
However, with the cooperation of major stakeholders in related sectors, the havoc being wrecked on lives and property by articulated vehicles on Lagos residents could be grossly reduced. For instance, the continuous importation of locally-consumed fuel in the country, arising from the inability of the federal government to fix local refineries, places serious burden on the state. With more than 50 fuel depots in Lagos alone, at least over 3,000 trucks travel to the state on a daily basis to lift petroleum products. This situation makes it rather difficult for relevant agencies of the state to properly monitor and control activities of trucks and articulated vehicle drivers in the state.
To redress the current trend, the federal government needs to urgently revive the failed national refineries. Continuous importation of fuel, no doubt, will exacerbate the pressure on Lagos and its infrastructure. Various stakeholders in the oil sector need to ingeniously look into the petroleum distributive arrangement to evolve a more scientific and less cumbersome order of distribution.
Equally, the federal government needs to invest massively in the development of infrastructure in the transportation sector. Investment in transportation infrastructure enhances private sector activities as it lowers operational cost and enhances productivity, job and wealth creation through exchange of goods and services. Infrastructure development in the sector is, therefore, critical to achieving human capital development in the country. One vital way through which this could be done is for the federal government to de-emphasise road transportation and revitalise rail transportation. If this is done, it could help, in no small way, to reduce carnage on our roads. It is a cheaper, effective and less cumbersome mode of transportation. Through rails, millions of litres of petrol and, indeed, people, goods and products, could be effectively and effortlessly transported across the country.
It is also important for governments at all levels to enlighten the public on fire prevention and safety measures. A research conducted by a non-governmental organisation, Fire Disaster Prevention and Safety Awareness Association of Nigeria (FDPSAAN), shows significant low level of awareness on fire safety in Nigeria. Less than two per cent of the over 140 million Nigerians have the required basic fire safety knowledge. The issue of safety, which once occupied a major place in the programmes and plans of every level of government, is now treated with levity. Within the context of Nigerian laws on safety, the National Fire Safety Code, for instance, seems to have been dumped. The code is a set of rules guiding fire prevention and control in all public buildings in Nigeria. It is, therefore, imperative that existing laws on safety are strengthened and strictly enforced in order to achieve a safer society.
In addition, vehicle inspectors must regularly ensure that only road-worthy vehicles are on the road. Unlatched trucks must not be allowed to ply our roads. Sales of drugs and alcoholic drinks at motor parks should be discouraged. Drivers’ unions must educate their members on safety issues while errant members must be sanctioned by relevant authorities. This is the time to stop avoidable and worthless loss of lives and property.
• Ogunbiyi is of the Features Unit, Ministry of Information and Strategy, Alausa, Ikeja.