One fire outbreak too many
In recent times in Nigeria, there have been so many incidences of fire outbreak. There have become so rampant that one would actually begin to wonder the reason behind such occurrences.
From residential houses, to schools, market places and even on the road, these fire outbreaks have left tales of wailing, monumental loss of lives and property and devastating damages.
Fire outbreaks are as a result of so many factors; while some are manmade, others arise from natural causes. These include: Electrical faults – Poor wiring, overloaded circuits, and power surges which can often lead to fires; Gas explosions – Gas leaks from cooking cylinders or industrial tanks can ignite and cause massive destruction; Market fires –Many Nigerian markets experience frequent fires due to unsafe storage of flammable materials and lack of proper firefighting equipment; Pipeline explosions –Illegal oil bunkering, vandalisation, and pipeline leaks frequently lead to devastating fires; Carelessness with fire –Open flames from candles, stoves, and cigarettes can start accidental fires; Industrial fires –Factories and refineries sometimes experience fires due to negligence or technical faults; Arson and sabotage –Some fires are intentionally set due to conflicts, crime, or political reasons.
All these can sometimes be prevented if we are careful or proactive enough.
Nigeria has experienced several significant fire incidents recently, leading to substantial loss of life. and property. Notable among the cases include the Islamic School Fire in Kaura Namoda. On the 7th of February, 2025, Nigerians received the news of a tragic fire that broke out at an Islamic school in Kaura Namoda district, North western Nigeria, resulting in the deaths of at least 17 children. The incident occurred while approximately 100 children were present at the school. From the preliminary investigations carried out, it was stated that the fire might have been triggered by a stockpile of sticks used for oral hygiene known as “kara” near the school premises.
In Sokoto State, a tragic fire outbreak in the early hours claimed the lives of Rabi’atu Sifawa, daughter of the Secretary to the Sokoto State Government (SSG), Alhaji Bello Sifawa, along with her three children and a house help. It was stated that the fire occurred at around 3:00 a.m. at the family’s residence. This unfortunate incident claimed the lives of the SSG’s daughter, Rabi’atu Sifawa and her three children—Fatimatu, Maryam, and Abubakar—as well as their house help, Aishatu Muhammad.
Similarly, on the 15th of October 2024, a fuel tanker overturned near the town of Majiya in Jigawa State. As it is the case with Nigerians probably as a result of sheer ignorance, villagers attempted to collect the spilled petrol. In the process, the tanker exploded resulting in the deaths of over 140 people and injuring many others. This incident is one of the deadliest of such fire incidents particularly as a result of accidents involving fuel tankers.
A fire outbreak in one-storey building in Abuja recently claimed the life of a five-year-old girl and destroyed properties worth millions of naira. The building is located at 16 Ottawa Street, Efab Metropolis Estate, Karsana, close to Gwarinpa in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The fire, which gutted several rooms on the first floor of the building, reportedly began around 10:30 p.m. Despite the devastation, the family continues to reside in the building.
Also in Abuja, in March, 2024, a diesel explosion at the residence of Abubakar Musa, a Judge of the Federal High Court, killed three persons, including a welder and his two apprentices. The explosion occurred as they worked on a leaking diesel container. All three victims died instantly.
In another development, a fire incident occurred on the last floor of a popular hotel, Focus Holiday Inn, in Abuja. The fire incident started at 3.00 am because of an electrical fault.
Moving to Lagos, it was stated recently that a late Sunday night fire outbreak destroyed several shops and stores housing combustible materials worth millions of naira at Ajah market in the Lekki area of Lagos. Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASMA), said the fire started on Sunday night at the market situated by Alesh bus-stop in the area. According to the agency, no casualty or injury was recorded in the fire incident
On 16 August, a fire outbreak at Sanni Adewale Street, Lagos Island, affected several shops within a seven-storey building. Also, in the same month, there was a fire outbreak involving a gas truck at a Mobil filling station, Allen Roundabout, near the Airport Hotel. The fire destroyed eight vehicles, including the gas truck.
In September, the Oko-Baba plank market in Ebute-Metta, Lagos, was engulfed by fire, destroying goods worth millions of naira. Recently, there was a fire outbreak that disrupted the blue rail train services.
In Ibadan, Oyo State, property worth millions of naira were razed in a fire incident with no fewer than seven shops were affected by the fire. The incident occurred at the Alaro Alapata area in Sango. The Oyo State Fire Service General Manager, Mr. Yemi Akinyinka, confirmed the incident. Akinyinka said that men of the fire agency immediately moved to the scene when they were contacted. He said no lives were lost in the inferno.
Moving to the Eastern part of the country, a devastating tanker explosion occurred at the Ugwu Onyeama axis of the Enugu -Onitsha highway, resulting in the death of about 15 people, including children. The incident, which occurred at about 12:30 pm, was caused by a tanker carrying fuel that went off lane while navigating the busy expressway. The tanker was said to have collided with several other passenger vehicles, causing a devastating fire.
Eyewitnesses stated that no fewer than four private cars, four committee buses, and two other tankers were engulfed in flames, with families and children reportedly burnt to ashes in the inferno. They said the volume of flames could not allow access into the area.
In Lokoja, properties worth millions of naira were destroyed following a fire outbreak at the popular GSM village in Lokoja, Kogi State. The popular GSM village situated around Kpata market, was involved in a fire incident that left bitter tales in the lives of the business people there. Some people lost all their investments.
At Itobe market, a recent fire outbreak also engulfed the market with some shops badly affected. The investments of the business people went down the drain.
These and many more are the tales of fire outbreaks across the nation. Anytime such an incident occurs, the people and government would begin to adduce reasons to why they happened, what can be done to avert such occurrences in the future, providing relief, etc. However, we never go back to actually doing the right thing.
There are several things we could do like creating public awareness and education. Relevant government agencies and Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) should educate citizens on fire safety. In the same vein, we could enforce stronger building regulations such as fire safety codes in homes, offices, and markets. Installation of fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors, and sprinkler systems should be mandatory in public buildings.
Regular electrical maintenance by households and businesses by conducting routine checks on electrical installation. Fire stations should be equipped with modern tools, and response time should be improved upon.
At gas stations and at homes, there should be strict regulation of gas use following the guidelines on storage and usage. The government should improve pipeline surveillance to prevent vandalisation and explosions, while markets should have proper firefighting measures, including hydrants and trained personnel.
Schools, offices, and markets should have fire drills and emergency exit plans and government should enforce laws against arson and negligence to prevent avoidable fire disasters. If implemented properly, these measures can help reduce or prevent fire outbreaks in Nigeria.
