The Federal Fire Service, Oyo State Command, has condemned the indiscriminate construction of shops in markets, warning that such practices hinder effective responses to fire outbreaks and other emergencies across the state.
The Zonal Commander of the Federal Fire Service for Oyo and Osun States, Olojo Ayodeji, stated this while flagging off the 2025 National Fire Safety Week on Monday in Ibadan.
The event had the theme: “Building the Culture of Fire Safety Across Nigeria: Overcoming the ‘Not My Portion’ Mentality.”
According to Ayodeji, devastating fire incidents often occur in marketplaces due to the presence of highly combustible materials that can easily fuel and spread fires during outbreaks.
The zonal controller said that curbing the indiscriminate and illegal erection of structures in marketplaces across the state by relevant stakeholders would significantly help reduce fire incidents.
“These illegal structures obstruct easy passage during emergencies.
“If proper structures are erected and safety measures are followed, it will greatly reduce the difficulties in responding to fire emergencies in markets and other places,” he said.
Ayodeji said the National Safety Week of the service is an annual programme conducted especially during the dry season, a period when fire incidents occur most frequently.
“We use this period to sensitise the public on fire safety and emergency preparedness, and we will be visiting markets, schools, offices and other places for the sensitisation,” he said.
In his lecture, a Superintendent of Fire, Oke Ayodeji, attributed 80 per cent of fire incidents in Nigeria to negligence and the careless attitudes of citizens.
Ayodeji said Nigerians must discard the “not my portion” mentality and be more proactive to reduce the incidence of fire outbreaks in the country.
He stated that fire could occur at any time and in any place, and urged citizens to abandon negligent attitudes and to adhere to fire safety procedures.
“Having the right mindset and discarding the ‘not my portion’ mentality will be better for us and for the country as a whole,” he said.
In his remarks, the Controller of the Federal Fire Service, Oyo State Command, Adeyemo Ariyo, said the service would continue to sensitise citizens on ways to prevent and reduce fire incidents in the state.
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