FIRE OUTBREAKS IN ANAMBRA STATE
In a period of three months, three (3) major fire outbreaks were recorded in the State at Bridge head drugs market Onitsha, First Bank Main Market Onitsha and Nkwo Ogidi market. Consequences of major fire outbreaks are usually heavy on individuals that are affected. The challenges of the fire service department to intervene in fire outbreaks in the State came up in one of the committee of stakeholders meetings held in Public Utilities sector. The meeting took note of the low capacity of the department to quickly respond to fire calls in a sustained manner to put off any inferno in the state. The weaknesses are on
- broken down fire fighting equipments,
- training for staff,
- water availability for refilling fire fighting equipments,
- poorly maintained firefighting equipments and vehicles,
- lack of fire hydrants at strategic locations; two of the stations mentioned for Ogbunike on the old road to Onitsha and Ekwulobia are yet to be done, and
- lack of chemical solutions for fire fighting
The committee remarked that prompt measures be undertaken in these regards.
On Friday, January 19, 2018, there was a fire outbreak in one of the banks in Onitsha (First Bank Nigeria Ltd, Main Market Branch Onitsha). The fire unit in the market was called for response by the people around and it failed. The equipments were not working. The unit sent S.O.S to Okpoko branch. Okpoko branch responded but it took them more time to arrive; considering the congestion in the town especially on roads. The fire had already done quite some damage and angry people around started chasing them. We also learnt that the fire unit at Ogidi was invited to support in the fire fighting but on learning that the unit from Okpoko were being chased by the people, they went back to their station. The citizens around worked hard to stop the fire from spreading.
Fire outbreak at Bridge Head Drug Market Onitsha
In December 2017, there was fire outbreak at Bridge Head Drug Market Onitsha, people around estimated the destruction at several millions and in the month of February another fire out break caused by explosion of loaded fuel tanker took place at the Nkwo market, Ogidi. This is happening in three consecutive months and the fire unit could not respond effectively in a sustained manner for the same reasons; the response at Nkwo Ogidi market did not get maximum effect because the market has no fire hydrant to support the effort and inadequate supply of chemical solutions for fire firefighting.
There are other fire outbreaks in the State within the period such as the one at Ugwuagba, Umuoba Anam General Hospital and the Mobile clinic at Ebenebe; farmers also suffered similar faith as many bags of rice were burnt at Anambra east local government area during the Christmas festival because they could not be taken out due to poor access roads to the farm an issue that has featured prominently in meetings of stakeholders in agriculture. In our field reports we noted that between 2016 and February 2017 that many fire calls were made and we estimate this at over 1000 based on the information people were giving in different locations in the State; and varying degrees of response were given to them.
Taking a look at the budget lines of the fire service unit in the Ministry, we took note of the reasons for the poor capacity of the department. The budget has been poorly implemented for the period under review.
| Budget lines | 2014 Budget | 2014 Actual | 2015 Budget | 2015 Actual | 2016 Budget | 2016 Actual | 2017 Budget | 2017 Actual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fire Service Project/supplies | 75,000,000 | 0 | 75,000,000 | 11,548,400 | 10,000,000 | 5,000,000 | 50,000,000 | 6,184,083 |
| Protective kits and wears for firemen | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10,000,000 | 0 | 5,000,000 | 0 |
| Purchase of fire fighting trucks | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 30,000,000 | 0 | 200,000,000 | 0 | Construction of fire station at Ogbunike and Ekwulobia | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25,000,000 | 0 | 25,000,000 | 0 |
It is thus easy to see the rot in the department as it has been utterly neglected.
We reviewed the statistics of fire outbreaks in the State published by the government and the result is as stated below. In a period of five (5) years, six hundred and ninety nine (699) fire outbreaks occurred in the State and resulted in twelve billion, four hundred and sixty five million, nine hundred and ninety thousand, four hundred naira only (N12,465,990,400) estimated loss to the people of the State. This level of loss is obviously avoidable if right decisions are taken and implemented at the right times.
| YEAR | NUMBER OF FIRE OUT BREAK | ESTIMATED VALUE OF PROPERTIES LOST (N) |
|---|---|---|
| 2011 | 133 | 1,735,580,000.00 |
| 2012 | 123 | 4,823,745,000 |
| 2013 | 156 | 2,290,945,400 |
| 2014 | 146 | 630,944,000 |
| 2015 | 141 | 2,984,776,000 |
| TOTAL | 699 | 12,465,990,400 |
The State economy is largely based on commerce and trade with very high population density estimated as high as 992.1 p/km² and population growth rate within the period of 2006-2011 at (+2.84%/year); by 2018, the population will be 5,846,063 *( http://population.city/nigeria/adm/anambra/). The State proudly announces that Nnewi is the industrial centre and Onitsha the commercial centre with the largest market in West African sub-region (Anambra State Strategic Plan). If we consider the above statistics on fire incidence, the losses, the high population density, and the major assets of the people of the State that are mainly goods, easily burnt by fire and the premier position given to trade and commerce in the State, it becomes obvious that efforts at checking fire incidences and bringing them under control when it happens are not good enough.
We know many people that have been recycled into abject poverty in the State because of many fire incidences that have gutted the main market at Onitsha and other markets in the town. In the past, almost every three years, the main market was burnt, those whose goods were burnt owed banks and other creditors within and outside Anambra State. These have created vicious circles of poverty within trade and commerce sector and the banking industry as many workers in banks are expelled for their inability to recover funds lent to such traders. All these could be avoided if we match our words with our actions in service delivery.
CONCLUSION
We recommend that the government take up quick initiatives and necessary actions to make all fire units in the State functional. The various points marked for construction of fire hydrants should be undertaken without further delay. The equipments should be serviced on a routine basis. The main market fire unit could not respond because the equipments they have in market are not functional. Every corner in the State is market. The State should have more fire units in the country than other States considering the level of exposure of our basic assets in trade and commerce.
In the above circumstances, citizens may start going to court to demand payment of compensation for loss of properties resulting from fire outbreaks where the units responsible are unable to respond appropriately.
God bless Anambra State.
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