N5 billion lost every year to fire disasters in Nigeria – Official

by Rachel Ogbu

(Photo: Punch)
(Photo: Punch)

In the past few months, fire disasters have been recorded across Lagos and around the country. Just on Thursday, July 18, goods probably worth billions of naira were destroyed by fire at the warehouse of Coscharis Nigeria Limited in Lagos now the Comptroller General, Federal Fire Service (FFS), Olusegun Okebiorun, has revealed that the country loses over N50 billion annually due to fire disasters.

On Friday Okebiorun paid a courtesy call on the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mike Omeri, in Abuja saying that the worst fire disasters were recorded in the year 2011 with loses well over N200 billion to the nation.

[READ: How goods worth billions of naira were lost in Coscharis warehouse fire [DETAILS]]

Premium Times reports:

He said that the nation’s capital recorded an average of one fire incident in two days, while Lagos being the commercial capital recorded an average of one fire incident in five days.

The fire service boss said that since NOA had distinguished itself as an effective tool for mass sensitisation on safety related concerns; the FFS had deemed it fit to partner with the NOA. He said that partnering with the agency would stem the ugly trend of destruction by fire, while describing safety as man’s most basic need.

Mr. Okebiorun said that the service was committed to ensuring fire safety in all government and private buildings across the country. He said that the Fire Safety Code was underway and would soon be signed into law after the due legislative processes.

He said that when passed, the Fire Safety Code would prohibit the construction of buildings in the country without adequate fire safety measures.

Responding, Mr. Omeri said that the agency would embark on sensitisation campaign that would create awareness on fire safety for the public. He said that the decision to embark on the campaign was informed by several letters from rural communities across the country requesting NOA to intensify efforts toward creating awareness on fire safety.

Mr. Omeri said that it was necessary for the agency to also sensitise the public on safe use of generators at the grassroots.

He said the risk of poisoning from generator fumes were also on the increase across the country and the agency’s campaign was being designed to cover awareness on the issue.

The NOA boss said that the agency was working together with the FFS, the National Emergency Management Agency and other stakeholders to achieve in the mitigation of disasters in the country.

He said that it would also enhance the preparedness of Nigerians to manage disasters if they do occur.

Mr. Omeri said that practical preparedness training would of a fire drill to be organised at the headquarters of the NOA by the FFS and replicated in other government ministries, departments and agencies.

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