By Seyi Babalola
Following the massive but avoidable fire incident that happened recently close to the officer’s quarters of Mile 2 Signal Barracks, the Ex-Signal Barracks Mile-2 Children Foundation (ESBMCF), as part of their barracks development initiatives, have organised a Fire Safety training for the soldiers and traders in barracks and their environs to help educate and create awareness and response knowledge on fire prevention strategies and firefighting tactics.
The programme kicked off with the first phase on Saturday 10th of September 2022 at Signal Operations Command Multi-purpose hall, Mile 2 Signal Barracks in Lagos and targets to train 450 persons, which includes 50 soldiers and 400 traders and civilians.
The programme was facilitated by three fire safety professionals and a fire safety veteran, which enabled active participation and interactive sessions. The participants include 22 soldiers and officers as well as 68 civilians, and they received training on how to recognise different fire hazards, prevention and causes of fire, efficient and confident response to fire outbreak emergencies, as well as practical sessions on the use of different fire extinguishers, blackest and other fire fighting agents.
Col BC Ogbonna, Commander Signal Operations Command, who was in attendance with his wife and other senior officers of the Nigerian Army, commended the ESBMCF for their initiative and efforts made to bring such necessary training and awareness programmes to the barracks. He also emphasised the importance of the impact of the training and advised that all shops in the Barracks Mammy Market should have fire extinguishers installed on or before the 10th of October 2022.
In his remarks, Simon Okwori, ESBMCF President, said the foundation was born out of the need to give back to the barracks, which nurtured their growth from childhood to adulthood.
“This is just one of the many programmes we are working on to impact the lives of people living in Signals Barracks and its environs,” while noting that the foundation looks forward to partnering with corporate organisations and individuals who will buy into our vision of impacting lives in the barracks.
The foundation came into existence about a year ago, and it had organised and successfully done a free Easter Party and Funfair for 1000 children living in Mile 2 Signals Barracks in 2022. The second and third phases of the Fire Safety awareness programmes will come up on Saturday 17th and 24th of September 2022 at the same venue.