WORLD INTERNATIONAL FIREFIGHTERS' DAY (IFFD), 4TH MAY, 2019

SAVE THE SOUL SPRING FOUNDATION LAUNCHES LIFE SAFETY AND FIRE OUTBREAK PREVENTION CAMPAIGN. 

Nigeria and Nigerians recently joined the World to celebrate the lots of the global workers in the annual May Day ceremony on the 1st of May. The United Nations (UN) has designated other days for many other relevant issues considered vital to the peaceful existence of man on a stable and sustainable universe among which is the International Firefighters’ Day (IFFD) that’s observed each year on May 4. 

It was instituted after a proposal was emailed out across the world on January 4, 1999 due to the deaths of five firefighters in a tragic circumstance in a bushfire in Australia.

Domesticating the concerns and in appreciating and complementing the efforts of the Federal and State Fire Services (FFS) and other fire-fighting institutions in ensuring that Nigerian communities and environments are as safe as possible, the SAVE THE SOUL SPRING FOUNDATION with the mandate to MENTOR AT RISK SOULS launched “A Life Safety and Fire Outbreak Prevention Campaign” to Schools, Markets, Industrial and Public places nationwide, starting from the Federal Capital Territory with determination to use preventive measures to curb the incessant incidents of fire outbreak.

Apart from ailing economy and insecurity, one problem that seems to be getting out of hand and has defiled all solutions is the frequent fire outbreaks all over the nation which always leave a lot of destruction in its wake to both human lives and property. 

In the last five years, research has revealed that incessant fire outbreaks have cost the national economy about Five Trillion Naira. These calamities are caused largely by accidental and careless handling of vehicles, cooking wares, oil spillage, smoking near flammable materials, bush burning, over heating of electronic equipment and naked wires in our markets, homes, offices and industrial areas. Other times, fire outbreak occurs as a result of ignorance to safety and just by fate for which nobody can be blamed. 

Experiencing serious consequences of the scourge are cities with high commercial activities, like Lagos, Port Harcourt, Onitsha, Kano and Federal Capital Territory has also been victim of severe urban fire, ranging from residential apartments, along transport routes, industrial and public buildings and even market places.

For the case of market fire mishap which damages are always at the climax, the impact has left traders in agonies because aside their losses, their livelihood and that of their dependents are destroyed, many have run into debt having borrowed from bank to stock their shops or bought goods on credit expecting to pay back after sales. 

This has led, eventually, to unemployment that is capable of creating an ugly atmosphere that could create a breach of security which government has to tackle.

When fire breaks out, there are serious problems for the residents of the particular property as putting-out fire isn’t a child’s play and so, can’t be an easy task to do. Undertake. Well acknowledged that Fire Services have been doing their bit in dealing with disasters but couldn’t have done beyond their capacity as their mandates are to concentrate on fire fighting and disaster management. 

However, at the verge of recording higher economic growth in Nigeria, there is need to take steps to stem the tide of incessant fire outbreaks by educating Nigerians in the neighborhood and industrial set ups on the need for a strong preventive measures to deal with fires in our homes, markets and schools to avoid blame games and further loss of lives and properties. 

The campaign launched at FCT visited Federal Fire Service, Murg Plaza/Area 10 Market, Ntako and Wuse Market, AEDC and Central Business District Area of Abuja. Media houses as NTA, AIT, STV, Liberty TV, Leadership and others graced the awareness.

The Life Safety and Fire Outbreak Prevention Campaign is on-going and would be intensified, sustained with a view to ingraining the Prevention Awareness (PA) in the heart of the populace.

Oluwatosin Ogunkuade

President

For: SAVE THE SOUL SPRING FOUNDATION