Follow Us on Google
By Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye
Nigeria continues to face a devastating wave of crises that reverberate through its communities—from tragic fire outbreaks in Lagos that forced desperate leaps from towering buildings to deadly road crashes, building collapses, petrol tanker explosions, floods, and the sudden loss of business owners. The troubling statistics reveal a nation under strain: Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service responded to 1,072 emergencies in the first half of 2025, including 922 fire incidents and 10 building collapses. Nationwide, the Federal Road Safety Corps recorded 3,433 deaths from road crashes in nine months. A recent petrol tanker explosion in Niger State alone claimed upwards of 57 lives. Such crises expose deep deficiencies in Nigeria’s emergency preparedness and crisis management, leading LaurelGabe Solutions International Ltd, with August Eye Security Services Ltd, to convene an urgent virtual conference, “Navigating the Storm: Mastering Crisis Management for Resilience & Growth”. The event brought together seasoned experts who shared their knowledge and firsthand experiences, offering a human-centred roadmap to resilience.
Opening the session, Ambassador Roy Oamien Okhidievbie, a former military combat engineer and security veteran, painted a vivid picture of Nigeria’s complex challenges. “We are from a very diverse, complicated, and challenging country and race,” he reflected. “One of the things that I usually advise people to do is do not allow yourself to flow with the things of negativity. Always positively align with ethics, integrity, and dignity.” Sharing his military experience, Ambassador Roy recounted frustrations, such as buying his own boots for jumps and paying for tailoring of military uniforms. “That made me start thinking… I had to move out of this thing,” he said. Through his transition to business, he learned the value of resilience and diversification. “You need to be in one group or the other, you need to know one person, you need to be a boy to one godfather… But resilience means thinking outside the box.” He spoke candidly about the endemic corruption weakening Nigeria’s institutions, warning, “There are two dangerous people in Nigeria: the politicians and the institutions… ghost workers with salaries shared by people abroad.” For him, the survival of businesses in Nigeria demands integrity, strong networks, and fluid knowledge of every aspect of operations. “If you kick somebody out, you must fill that space yourself.”
Dr Uniyime-Ivy King, Chairperson of Protection Plus Services Ltd, brought the conversation to the linchpin of crisis management: communication. She shared a deeply personal journey taking charge after the loss of her company’s founder. “When Ubon King passed, morale was low, misinformation was high, and fear filled the atmosphere,” she said. “But in crisis, silence is not good and it’s dangerous. Communication is not just a soft skill; it’s a survival skill.” Dr King stressed the importance of calmness, recounting, “I had an inner calmness… that came from my personal relationship and work with God. When my team saw that calmness outwardly, it reassured them.” She laid out the three phases of crisis communication: preparation, rapid response during the crisis, and reflective recovery afterwards. She advised leaders to continuously build “trust in the emotional bank account” before crises strike, so they can “make withdrawals in a storm”. During crises, communication must be “quick, truthful, and humane,” she emphasised. “You do not keep quiet. Share facts as they are verified. People will remember how you made them feel.” She concluded, “Security is not an expense; it’s an investment… missing communication can be as dangerous as missing a weapon.”
Adding perspective on business and professional resilience, Dr Victoria Akai, CEO of Duchess Marketplace and advocate for MSMEs, framed crisis as both a disruptor and an opportunity. “The world is no longer so sympathetic; the real story is how you survive and thrive,” she remarked. She described the leader’s emotional state as setting the “temperature” for the whole organisation. Using the “RACE” model—Recognise, Assess, Communicate, Execute—she articulated a systematic approach to crisis management. “Recognise early warning signs; assess what is most critical; communicate transparently; and execute with agility.” For businesses, she stressed diversifying income streams and creating financial buffers. “Digital resilience means digitising processes so records are preserved, and operations can continue unimpeded.” Equally important is human resilience—“training teams to adapt and embrace change”. Dr Akai exhorted, “Resilience isn’t about falling. It’s about standing stronger than before.”
Other News
Dr Anthony Akadi, MD and CEO of Juuldaam Engineering & HSE Systems Ltd, focused on safety, health, and environment, especially linked to Nigeria’s Ember months. He highlighted dangers including driver fatigue, overloading, poor vehicle maintenance, and distracted workers rushing to meet year-end targets. “Risks escalate due to complacency and festive distractions,” he explained, adding, “Electrical fires caused by faulty wiring, overloaded generators, and improper fuel storage are common.” Recounting significant incidents, he cited a 2022 fire in Baloko attributed to electrical overload and unsafe fuel storage, along with fires caused by poor housekeeping at recycling plants. Dr Akadi underscored the critical nature of emergency preparedness. “It requires planning, team training, and equipment readiness to save lives and minimise damage.” He warned about the risks of inadequate emergency contacts and poor communication that delay effective responses. “Preparedness means knowing who to call and organising to respond immediately to emergencies.”
Prof Hilary Inyang, renowned geoenvironmental scientist and President/CEO of the Global Institute for Sustainable Development, brought crucial insights linking environment, safety, and sustainable development to crisis management in Nigeria. He emphasised that Nigeria’s vulnerability to disasters—from floods to erosion to health epidemics—is aggravated by poor preventive measures. “Nigeria is very blessed, but disasters are coming,” he warned. “The country has seen ravages of flooding and erosion which will worsen if not managed preventively.” Prof Inyang highlighted the need for robust national environmental assessments and transparent use of ecological funds. “The ecological fund takes 3 to 4 per cent of Nigeria’s revenue monthly or daily, but too often it is misused or diverted as pocket money for officials.” He stressed that environmental governance in Nigeria suffers from lack of implementation despite frameworks existing, stating that “advice often falls on deaf ears”. He cautioned against complacency, noting Nigeria’s massive population increases the impact of environmental and health crises. “The best approach for Nigeria is prevention rather than remedial action. Effective crisis management must include environmental sustainability to mitigate risks before they become disasters.”
The conference not only brought data-driven urgency but also nuanced the human toll of Nigeria’s crisis challenges with powerful personal stories and pragmatic solutions. The Lagos fire service grappled through the first half of 2025 responding to 1,072 emergencies—rescuing 252 trapped persons but witnessing 62 deaths—including incidents where people were forced to jump from buildings to survive. Meanwhile, Nigeria’s road crashes killed 3,433 persons and injured 22,162 from January to September. Over four years, Nigeria recorded 145 building collapses nationwide, disproportionately affecting fast-growing urban areas like Lagos that wrestle with chaotic construction and lax enforcement. The Niger State fuel tanker disaster alone killed over 57 in one tragic explosion, underscoring the acute risks of poor safety protocols.
These interwoven challenges demand a multi-dimensional approach to crisis management, with leadership integrity, clear communication, strategic preparedness, and environmental safeguards at its core. As Ambassador Roy poignantly summarised, “You must be a double person—with God the Father as your Godfather and integrity as your network.” Dr King echoed this, emphasising the vital role of inspiring trust and transparency. Dr Akai offered the practical framework for businesses to anticipate disruption and adapt rapidly. Dr Akadi detailed the critical safety infrastructures and emergency readiness necessary for protecting lives. Prof Inyang concluded the holistic view by grounding crisis management within sustainability and prevention policies crucial to Nigeria’s safety and future growth.
Charles Ekanem, Director of LaurelGabe Solutions International Ltd, whose vision is to become a multisectoral integrated solutions hub, recommended that the Federal Government of Nigeria and the National Assembly establish an Office of the Director General for Public Safety in the Federal Capital Territory and across all 36 states. He further urged the development of robust laws and policies on public safety. This office would be tasked with ensuring the safety and protection of lives and the environment nationwide. Furthermore, training and certification programmes for youths and graduates in public safety will not only provide them with valuable skills, but will also create meaningful job opportunities, thereby driving economic growth and community resilience.
