Wednesday, October 16th, 2019, was not only a sad day for Anambrians especially for Onitsha residents and traders who lost their different source of livelihood to the terrible Onitsha Ochanja Market Inferno but also a day that questions the effectiveness of both the federal and state fire service in Onitsha, and also most especially, reveals the insensitivity of our people.
On that sad day, a tanker, carrying Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol), exploded after falling down inside the drainage channel at MCC bus stop near Toronto Hospital, at Upper-Iweka axis which extended to Ochanja Market and other parts of the city.
According to reports, the tanker laden with petroleum products fell into a ditch and spilled its contents. A ball of fire that resulted from this incident quickly spread burning many commercial buildings and killing a mother and her child among others.
It will be recalled that a similar incident took place in May 2015 in which 69 persons died at the first instance and many others later died in the hospital.
Also, in February 2017, the petrol tanker crashed into a Filling Station at DMGS Roundabout, Onitsha, where a lot of lives, properties, offices and various residential apartments were lost.
There have also been pockets of other various fire outbreaks in the last five years of this administration of His Excellency, Chief Dr. Willie Obiano.
READ ALSO: Onitsha Inferno: Nwodo Laments Absence Of Fire Fighters, Works Ministry
Despite the fact that the state government in its response approach acquired fire fighting equipment for the three senatorial zones in Anambra State, the Wednesday fire incident have further showed that the acquisitions, though a step in the right direction, is a mere drop in the ocean in view of the challenge being faced by the state in fire-fighting.
For a state that has the commercial and industrial cities of Onitsha, Nnewi, Awka, Ekwulobia, Ebenebe, and others, the current fire service equipment in Anambra State cannot guarantee a prompt response to fire calls, rescue operations, and other related emergencies.
As a state that has a high concentration of markets, business plazas, industries, and residential buildings, the need for the establishment of more fire stations and the purchase of more fire fighting equipments will help to reduce response time during emergencies.
For Anambra State to achieve a more rapid fire response system, the state must leverage on some of the fire fighting facilities being produced by Innoson company(An indigenous manufacturing company in the state).
In the last few years, Innoson company has produced world class fire fighting trucks that has the capacity of transporting firefighters safely to any scene, while also providing water with which they can use to extinguish the fire. The truck is well equipped with other useful equipment that are essential for firefighters. States like Enugu and Kwara state are already addressing their fire fighting challenge with Innoson fire fighting facilities.
To ensure efficient and effective service delivery in fire prevention and attack with a view to reducing Deaths, Injuries and economic losses associated with outbreak of fire, Anambra state must at least for the time being have Seven (7) fire stations with fully equipped Innoson fire fighting trucks and other facilities which will be managed by the Anambra State Fire Service.
Since markets is the highest revenue generating source and has the concentration of human beings, government must provide the market with Innoson fire fighting facilities especially in all markets across Nnewi, Onitsha, Awka, and Ekwulobia. This will help avert any possible fire outbreak in markets in Anambra State.
The Anambra State House Assembly needs to make a law that will make it compulsory for all public buildings to have firefighting equipment in place to forestall any fire outbreak.
The populace especially the youths must stop the attitude of being unfriendly to fire-fighters that turn up for emergency operations, as was ‘allegedly’ experienced in that of Onitsha.
The vehicle inspection officers in the state must ensure the enforcement safety precautions for vehicles of any type.
Government must ensure that road maintenance is taken serious and traffic decongestion is enabled.
The state fire service must review and implement training modules for its staffs to ensure professionalism.
Anambra state must look at the possibility of allowing and encouraging private sector participation in fire fighting.
Finally, as suggested by Senator Dr. Patrick Ubah on the floor of the Senate recently, it must be enforced that all tankers, carrying Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol), must meet the tamper proof and leak proof manhole standardized requirement, to avoid the issue of explosion.
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