We do witness some events that cause great or sudden misfortune to life and physical assets from time to time. Some are beyond human control and are generally referred to as natural calamities or acts of God; whereas some others are man-made and avoidable. However, the approach to such events, by way of prevention, anticipation, monitoring, controlling or managing, very clearly helps to define, showcase or to determine the priority of a nation.
Earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes and flooding are beyond human control but we have also observed how some countries have placed mechanisms in place to anticipate their occurrence. More importantly we have also noticed their concrete efforts to reduce the impact on life and assets when such calamities occur. In Nigeria we are fortunate that these calamities are generally alien here but most of the disasters confronting us are avoidable.
Last night we received the horrific news of the several lives that were lost and numerous more seriously wounded as a result of explosions caused by an overturned oil-laden tanker. The victims reportedly had gone to scoop spilled petrol from the accident scene when this highly inflammable product overcame them. Our hearts and prayers must reach out to the families that have lost loved ones. As a country we must take responsibility for this and other avoidable calamities, when we carry out a thorough root cause analysis.
First and foremost, this incident is indicative of extremely poor citizenry awareness of the dangers inherent in people toying with inflammable products. It has remained recurrent and you begin to wonder the level of awareness enshrined in the roles and functional responsibilities of our NATIONAL ORIENTATION AGENCY [NOA].
Again, to facilitate the movement of petroleum products, this country had established a network of pipeline system in the 70s and 80s, but today, these pipelines have been lying fallow for decades, as if in sympathy with the four comatose national refineries. With these trucks taking over the functions of the pipelines by way of bridging the movement, have we instituted parameters for their safe conduct, such as speed limit, time breaks and journey limit? With the road infrastructure decay in the country, have we been monitoring their routes to ensure their strict compliance with the Federal Road Safety Commission [FRSC] guidelines? There are more questions to ask but the bottom-line is that our government agencies must be up and doing with their functions and responsibilities.
Enlightenment is paramount in a country where the level of illiteracy is relatively high. National public awareness of disasters and ways to avoid them must be a continuous programme for the NOA. Take a look at the scourge of ritual killings for “money-making,” this is also an area the NOA should carry out awareness campaigns nationwide to eliminate the gullibility of the citizenry towards such practices.
Nigeria must begin to see the protection of life and physical assets as a priority in governance. Several years ago there was a law in this country requiring every rider or user of a motorbike to wear a protective crash helmet, this is to protect citizens from serious falls, and what is the compliance level today? We make laws and they are neither monitored nor punishment meted out to those flouting them. But we turn around to lament the consequences of non-compliance. This is mere shedding of crocodile tears.
Nigerians, when we fail to manage our man-made and avoidable calamities, how are we then going to manage natural or unforeseen disasters if and when they occur? We must brace up to address this question, and not hope on: “IT IS NOT OUR PORTION.” It is no country’s portion to be embedded in calamities, but countries develop the courage to prepare to confront challenges to conquer them. YOU CANNOT CONQUER A CHALLENGE YOU FAIL TO CONFRONT. Period!!!
