By Isqil Najim
The recent fire outbreak at a female hostel annexe of Gombe State University, which hospitalized three students and sent others into panic, should be a reminder of the hidden dangers lurking in our homes.
According to the Federal Fire Service, Gombe Command, the inferno was caused by an unattended cooking gas (LPG) explosion. This incident is particularly alarming as it occurred shortly after the university lifted a ban on gas cylinders in student accommodation.
As Nigerians rightly continue to embrace cooking gas—a cleaner, faster, and more efficient alternative to kerosene and coal—we must simultaneously embrace the responsibility that comes with handling this potent fuel.
The Gombe incident, thankfully contained without fatalities, is but the latest in a worrying national trend where negligence turns a household convenience into a catastrophe. Every user must understand that gas safety is not a recommendation; it is a life-or-death necessity.
The Cost of Negligence: A Deadly National Pattern
The price of neglecting safety standards is often measured in lives lost and properties destroyed, none of which any right thinking person desire. This danger extends far beyond the kitchen stove and involves the entire supply chain, from the retailer to the end-user. The Gombe event is unfortunately echoed by past tragedies across the nation:
In Nnewi, Anambra State, on December 25, 2015, a massive fire sparked by a tanker truck explosion at an industrial gas plant resulted in the horrific death of over 100 people queuing for refills. The sheer scale of that loss, widely reported by outlets like Al Jazeera, highlights the extreme danger inherent in the gas value chain when safety standards are ignored.
In Agege, Lagos State, on June 26, 2023, an explosion at a gas retail shop near the Apostolic Church injured four individuals, who suffered second-degree burns. Preliminary reports, confirmed by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and Channels Television, attributed the blast to a simple gas cylinder leakage.
Furthermore, in the Alimosho Market area of Lagos on December 23, 2023, property worth millions of naira was razed after a gas cylinder leakage led to an explosion. Vanguard News cited the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, who pinned the cause squarely on negligence in the refilling of the cylinder by the dealer. This showed that risk can also originates outside the home but directly impacts the user.
These tragedies confirm that every single Nigerian using LPG must make safety consciousness their primary job.
Mitigating Risks in the LPG Value Chain
Our transition to LPG represents an engineering success in clean energy adoption, but the accompanying human factors—handling, storage, and maintenance—are where the system often breaks down.
The journey of the gas cylinder from the filling station to your kitchen is a high-risk route. It is common to see gas cylinders transported precariously, often placed directly on the head by delivery individuals, sometimes small kids are seen carrying LPG cylinders on their heads. Any improper handling here risks damaging the critical valve head—the weakest point of the cylinder—or loosening the regulator connection, leading to leakage during subsequent use.
Users must always inspect their cylinder immediately after delivery for any visible damage to the valve or cap.
Crucially, the cylinder itself must never be kept indoors, especially not under the counter, in a poorly ventilated space, or near flammable materials. This is because LPG vapor is heavier than air, meaning if a leak occurs, the gas pools silently on the floor and can travel across a room to find an ignition source—be it a spark from an electric switch or a pilot light.
To mitigate this, cylinders must be stored outdoors or in a well-ventilated, secure, shaded space separate from the cooking area, connected to the stove by a high-quality, fit-for-purpose hose.
Health and Environmental Concerns
Beyond the immediate risk of fire, there are critical health and environmental concerns. While LPG itself burns cleanly, if cooking appliances are improperly maintained or if the ventilation is poor, incomplete combustion can produce deadly, odourless Carbon Monoxide (CO) gas. This is a severe health risk leading to asphyxiation and death.
Additionally, as seen in Gombe, the secondary effects of explosions—smoke inhalation and extreme anxiety—often require immediate medical attention. Gas leakages, even slow ones, pose a chronic risk by displacing oxygen in enclosed spaces, leading to headaches, dizziness, and other respiratory issues over time.
Preventing and Detecting Leaks: Your Daily Safety Routine
The added odour in cooking gas, usually Mercaptan, is engineered to be your first warning system. Never ignore it. Your daily safety routine should begin with a visual check of the hose for cracks and the connection point before lighting your burner. Always open the cylinder valve slowly.
For effective detection, the Soap Water Test is your reliable DIY kit. Simply mix liquid soap and water to create a thick lather. Apply this lather generously around the regulator connection, the hose joints, and the cylinder valve. If bubbles form or grow, you have a leak. Turn the cylinder off immediately and call a certified expert for repair or replacement.
The DIY Fire Hazard Protocol: Knowledge that Saves Lives
This is the most critical knowledge gap: what to do when gas catches fire. Most people panic and try to move a burning cylinder, which is incredibly dangerous and often leads to a catastrophic explosion.
First and most importantly, DO NOT PANIC. Immediately yell “Fire! Gas leak!” to alert everyone to evacuate the building safely. Crucially, your only effective action is to TURN OFF THE VALVE. Approach the cylinder and, if the fire is small and concentrated around the valve or regulator, quickly turn the cylinder valve knob clockwise to the fully closed position. Cutting off the fuel source is the sole way to stop an LPG fire, and it will often extinguish itself instantly.
Next, if the fire is large or you cannot safely reach the valve, you must focus on COOLING THE CYLINDER. Use a wet cloth, towel, or a fire extinguisher to spray the body of the cylinder and the base of the flames. Cooling prevents the cylinder’s internal pressure from rising, which is the immediate cause of a catastrophic explosion.
Finally, if the fire is uncontrollable or you cannot shut the valve, evacuate the area immediately, and call the Fire Service, remembering that your life is more important than the property.
The Critical Role of Community Safety Drills
While we empower the individual, we must acknowledge the broader challenge: many Nigerian households lack basic fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, and a general lack of trust in public emergency services often leaves citizens feeling dependent on luck during a disaster. This is where community action becomes indispensable.
We strongly recommend that streets and residential estates must develop a habit of safety drill training and awareness.
Emergency call numbers for the Fire Service, local security, and medical response must be strategically positioned in common areas. More importantly, residents should commit to regularly training each other on rapid emergency response, focusing not only on tackling a fire hazard but also on administering basic first aid and aiding victims safely. Safety is not a solitary endeavor; it is a contract between neighbours, ensuring that a quick, informed community response stands ready when institutional help is delayed.
Our collective future is intertwined with cleaner energy sources like LPG, but engineering excellence must be matched by user vigilance and community readiness. Let the incident at Gombe State University serve as the final warning we need to dedicate ourselves to safety. If you use gas, safety is your job—and the job of your community.