ARTICLE: THE NIGERIAN FIRE SERVICE- THE HUMOUR

A humourous article by Stephen Ipalibo-Lawson who is all these (PR Consultant/TV Host/Master of Ceremony) in one person and thought to put down his thoughts.

Really Humourous. Enjoy.

On this faithful evening on my way back from a visit with a friend in Victoria Island. I had to take a cab as it was a safer option, rather than the risk of the Indian hemp induced manned “danfo” who have no sense of courtesy or duty. A very sad situation. My advice, avoid the Lagos yellow buses, aka “danfos”, as much as you can. The folks are unruly, crazy and noisy. It’s just insane and abnormal, and it’s a transport system the Lagos State Government has in place to take care of the mega city project.

Anyway, here was myself and the cab driver moving down the stadium axis. It was about 10:30pm or so. I needed to get home to Fadeyi, to rest and be refreshed for the next day’s job. On our way were young executives racing and blaring their car horns. A mannerism I have never being able to come to terms with Lagos drivers. We are always in a hurry chasing the gifting of mammon, targeting the bull eyes in a rat race, trying to outsmart the competition and hustling forward to pick up the laurel. These choices are what we make day in and day out, only for us to complain about the shallowness of our common society.

Here we were engrossed in a gist about the sad story of having thieves as leaders across Federal, State and Local levels in a country where the resources are in abundance. The cases of how elected persons conspire with their comrades in the banking and financial sectors, civil service departments etc to rob and rape a beautiful bride like Nigeria. Rather than invest these resources in a country where the life expectancy is less than 50 years, we have these insipid rulers go invest in capital and infrastructural projects in lands where they are considered second citizens. If that is not the height of foolishness without the hope of redemption, I don’t know what is.

Well, the next thing we heard was the sound of siren from a fire truck. Instinctively, I and the cab driver looked at each other and asked if the truck had water in it. You know the story of how Nigeria fire fighters race to fire scenes only to declare empty tanks or insufficient water to quell the blazing fire. Properties and sometimes lives are lost because we do not have street water hoses that can be connected to for purposes like this. For crying out loud, the country cannot boast of drinking tap water, and we call ourselves the giant of Africa. Well, we are giants indeed; giants of corruption and nepotism for sure. It’s just a shame. Sometimes I ask myself if there are any Nigerian leaders any generation can be proud of. Your answers are as good as mine.

Coincidentally, I had seen the movie Firelight starring the Oscar winning actor, and Fireproof, all American movies. Cinema and movies are beyond art forms for civilized society. They are archives of historical events and documentation that defines our stories as a people. How we live, what we value and what we honour. In Nigeria, we blow trumpets for criminals who steal and are honoured with national medals for theft and mediocrity. Then we turn around and wonder why we are so rudderless and visionless. Anyway, the movies show how responsive the fire fighters were. The drill they undergo, their attitude and understanding of the value of life. You will see how people but their lives in danger to rescue the lives of others. These are men and women of true honour. Braze, courageous and determined to do right. Fire is no joke. When we were little, the lessons that came from playing with fire become a reminder in proverbs we recite often. That is how impactful fire is.

How does this connect to the subject of the Nigerian Fir Service? Well, everything. What amazed me most was the comment the cab driver made. He said, “Oga no surprise say na their park for Ojuelegba they dey go wey they dey blow siren like that”, meaning, it could be their station at Ojuelegba that the truck is moving to. So the fact that the sirens were on was not because of a fire, but the typical nature of most black folks in uniform.


Stephen Ipalibo-Lawson*
PR Consultant/TV Host/Master of Ceremony
+234802-946-6761