The best time to prepare for an emergency is before the emergency occurs. This statement is a clear reminder that proactive planning, not reactive response, is the most effective way to manage crises.
The recent fire incident at Afriland Towers, Marina, Lagos that claimed the lives of ten employees of Federal Revenue Services and United Capital PLC is a sad wake up call. As Eneni Oduwole, a risk expert stated, “Every tragedy leaves us with a choice.
We can mourn, move on, and wait for the next crisis. Or we can act decisively, urgently, responsibly to ensure that never again will Nigerians have to choose between the doors of an office and the windows of escape.” Let’s reflect on the continued loss of lives due to the tardiness of our attitude towards public emergency response.
Do you know that failure to prepare for fire emergencies is an unconscious decision to accept the destructive tendencies of flames and toxic smoke? The recent Afriland Towers fire incident is a sad reminder of the limited or no functional emergency response plan in many public places. While it may not be uncommon to hear people casually talk of the lost ten lives as mere numbers, the reality is that the people impacted were people’s husbands, wives, uncles, children, friends, sponsors, and the likes. In the past, we have also lost many lives in markets, shops, student hostels, petrol stations, etc fires. Though the financial impact of the fires may be huge, it cannot be compared to the lives lost and the devastating and lasting effects on the affected families, communities and organizations. While fingers may point to Afriland Towers, are we better in emergency preparedness in other public buildings and institutions? Which government institution or building in Nigeria has well-trained fire emergency response personnel, functional equipment and reliable response procedure? Even for institutions established for emergency response purposes, how many are functional? How many fire stations in Nigeria are equipped with trained personnel and functional equipment? Recently I attended a function at Ibom Hall ground, Uyo.
Despite the huge turnout, none of about 30 emergency exits installed on the facility was available for use. In a study done this year by my research team on the safety culture in public health institutions in Akwa Ibom State, for example, the poor state of safety culture was obvious. You can read the published research report at https://doi.org/10.51244/IJRSI.2025.120600136. We recommended enhanced training programmes, strengthened incident learning process, improved leadership communication, addressing staffing shortages, involvement of the workforce in safety programmes such as safety drills, and sustenance of the culture of continuous improvement. As religious as our society may be and as position-conscious as we may be, the reality is that when emergency strikes, it does not recognize religious and tribal affiliations or social and political positions. In fact, some of the most well-placed may become ready victims as many of them may have underlying health conditions that may collapse at the sight of an emergency.
So, let the lives lost in the Afriland Towers fire be the last but expensive price we have paid to reset our poor attitude to emergency response planning. Let’s recognize that misappropriation of money for emergency preparedness is like drinking sweet poison unconscious of its fatal effects. Let the time of our ignorance be gone. Lets commit that such an incident must never happen again. As a matter of urgency, let the relevant institutions carry out an audit of fire emergency response readiness at public institutions and buildings and take immediate action to address training and personnel deficiencies, inadequate and malfunctioning equipment and lack of emergency response plans. Let’s institute periodic safety drills as part of the requirements for public buildings. Let’s introduce safety into our primary and secondary school curriculum to raise public sensitivity on actions required to protect lives and properties. Let the national and state assemblies conduct probes on budgetary allocations related to emergency preparedness to confirm proper utilization or otherwise of the funds. Those found culpable should be brought to book as they may be putting the public at risk. Let building plans approvers, regulatory agencies and safety professionals/bodies conduct necessary checks to ensure compliance with fire emergency preparedness and evacuation plans.
As you step out each day, move with the consciousness that emergency can occur and that you may be a victim if the right people, equipment and response procedures are not in place. In your house, office, shop and organization, think of what to do if there is a fire emergency. In all you do, take steps such as good housekeeping, proper equipment maintenance, training, etc to prevent fire emergencies. Consciously enhance your capacity and that of those living or working with you to know what to do if there is a fire emergency. Never forget that investment in fire emergency preparedness is a good investment even if the result may not be obvious.
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- Esitikot is a professor of occupational health and safety, a COREN-registed chemical engineer, public affairs analyst, UN Ambassador for Peace, certified management consultant, World Safety Organization Ambassador, recognized Environmental Ambassador, marriage counsellor, youth mentor, reviewer for some international research journals and volunteer lecturer at the Institute of Health, Safety, Security and Environment, University of Uyo. He is a manager in the oil and gas industry and was recognized by Highstone Global University, USA as the occupational health and safety personality of 2024. He can be contacted via 08035103559 (Whatsapp only) or email (esitikot@gmail.com).
