Lukmon Akintola
Lagos
There are several banned items in Nigeria, yet, one way or the other many still find their way into our markets. One of such items is fireworks more commonly called banger or bisco.
Every year, as a festive period draw near, importers and sellers of fireworks get set for a business that sometimes last for weeks and at other time, months.
Weeks before the yuletide season, we get used to a lot of loud noise and smoke polluting the air, as young boys and girls run around dangerously playing with a range of fireworks in anticipation of the holidays. Christmas day more often than not is when the noise goes wild. If you live in large cities like Lagos and Benin or Asaba, you quickly get used to the noise these fire crackers make.
The madness reaches its peak on New Year night when there is a valid excuse to be happy. “We have seen a new year, why not blow up some bangers,” Fade, a 33 years old man who is already stocking up fireworks for the holidays said.
Fire fighters at the scene of some burnt houses resulting from exploding fireworks
The New Year witnesses a lot of fireworks, as it is common to hear noise of bangs from all directions as soon as the declaration of New Year is made by pastors in their various churches. This is irrespective of the fact that in recent years, pastors now announce to their congregations not to shoot their fireworks around the church.
For many, the bangs are the best way to usher in the New Year and the urge is just irresistible.
In time past, the average Nigerian would classify all fireworks as the same because most of them make the same loud bangs. Today, there are several kinds of fireworks, biscos and firecrackers with different effects and sounds. From banger to the Yoruba named fireworks such as ‘Ina Olorun’, which when translated to English means ‘Fire of God’ and even ‘Lamole’, meaning strike it on the ground. There are also the unique ones, which are known to be colourful. The more the colour and sound, the more expensive the firework is, as they vary in prices.
These variations could also be in the number of bangs you get from the banger, some even paint bright and enticing rainbow-like colours in the skies.
Depending on when you use your fireworks, a particular type of firework can create beautiful and colourful impressions in the night or day skies. While the picture painted might be a colourful one, one shocking fact is that the fireworks used for celebration are all banned commodities. Yet, they remain easily accessible in the open market and are displayed for all to see and buy.
Onetime Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Ade Ipaye says, “What is commonly regarded as fireworks and colloquially as ‘bangers’ is in fact ‘explosives’ within the meaning of the Explosives Act. To start with, fireworks is a controlled item and therefore no person can import, manufacture, possess, use, buy, sell or convey the same without complying with the law.”
Ipaye’s statement indeed confirms the fact that fireworks are banned in Lagos State. However, despite this riot act, shops with goods worth millions of Naira have been razed to the ground; fingers have been blown off and in some cases hands torn into shreds all a confirmation that these banned commodities are indeed dangerous. Yet, they still sell like hot cakes in the market.
A compendium of unpalatable incidents, which have occurred as a result of fireworks gone bad includes that which happened on Monday, December 26th 2016, when fireworks stored in warehouses located at Jankara area of Lagos led to the destruction of three houses at Okoya/Ojogiwa, Lagos Island, Lagos. Apart from the burnt houses, over 40 people were treated for minor injuries according to the National Emergency Management Agency, (NEMA).
While a lot of people might describe the fire incident of Lagos Island as a one off case, the damages which it left in its wake was supposed to be an eye opener. However, it has not stopped the importation, distribution and sales of fireworks in the country.
This situation thus leaves questions such as what is really special about fireworks, why can’t the police enforce the ban on it and many more.
Olumide Ajayi explains his seeming addiction to fireworks, “There is only one thing which signifies the arrival of a festive period and it is fireworks. The moment you hear the bangs you know that a festive period is near. We have to thank God for life and if that is the way we chose to do it then fine,” he said.
“Aside the dangers of houses being burnt as a result of carelessness, injuries to people playing with fireworks, I think that it is a good thing. We should be able to celebrate whatever festivities we are alive to see,” Tawa Oladunni opined.
There are also those who hold a contrary opinion to the sales of fireworks. In the past, individuals have appealed to the government to regulate the sales of fireworks. One of them is Mr. Slyvanus Ibiwere, a trader. Mr. Ibiwere lost two shops in a fireworks explosion, which subsequently left him having only a makeshift shop. “If the government doesn’t control the sale, storage and use of fireworks in the state, anything can happen again,” he said.
Moses Dauda’s opinion is not different from the earlier ones. According to him, “In foreign countries, they use fireworks to celebrate. In opening ceremonies of tournament such as World Cups, we see fireworks being used. The only thing is that they are handled by professionals and things don’t get out of hand. Maybe because we are in Africa, we tend to take things for granted. Accidents are not peculiar with fireworks after all people get involved in accidents and die; we have also seen houses even banks getting burnt. Do they keep fireworks in the banks? Accidents are not peculiar with fireworks. They just happen when they do.”
The high level of unemployment in the country also seems to add its own effect to the increase in the numbers of fireworks sellers. Iya Juwon, an annual seller of fireworks in the Lekki axis of Lagos State describes the business as lucrative. It helps me pay some of my debts, she said. Her words, “I sell all sorts of banger. If I don’t finish my stock before the festive period ends, I keep them till next year and sell them. There is no job for us to do, so we manage the way we can.”
Asked if she is aware that she is selling banned goods she answers thus, “who ban banger. If they have indeed done that, why are we still buying it? Why do we still see shops in Ebute Metta, Oyingbo and several other places packed full with bangers? My brother that is how Nigeria is. Are they not importing it, are the customs not in charge of ensuring that it doesn’t come into the country. If they bring it into Nigeria, we will buy and sell. Those who will purchase from us too will buy. We have to eat, will the government or police feed my children for me, will they pay for their school fees?
Like Iya Juwon, a lot of sellers of fireworks share the same sentiment. However, their confidence seems boosted by the poor enforcement of sales of ban items by the police.
In the wake of the negative realities from fireworks, questions such as how are fireworks imported and distributed in the country having been declared illegal have been asked. Other questions that have been asked asides the aforementioned are what are the enforcement agencies including the police and customs doing about ensuring that fireworks are no longer imported into the country, are those breaking the law being punished? What has the police done to those who have been caught selling these fireworks in terms of punishment to serve as a deterrent to others? These questions do not need answers.
Lagos Police Command Public Relations Officer, Chike Godwin Oti confirmed that the use of fireworks in Lagos State remains illegal.
According to him, the Lagos State Acting Commissioner of Police (CP), Edgal Imohimi that the use of bangers is illegal and anybody caught breaching the law will be dealt with appropriately. When asked if anyone had been arrested or prosecuted this year for breaching the law, Oti answered thus; “The Christmas is still some weeks away, I can’t confirm that anybody has been arrested or prosecuted.”
Pastor Ruth Akinfiro, the Resident Pastor of New Covenant Assembly aka Power Pentecostal Church, Egan, Lagos, reacted when asked how she felt about having to pray through December 31, only for the whole atmosphere to be taken over by fireworks. “We don’t do bangers in my church, but we do bisco. I don’t support bangers at all. If we have fireworks, we can launch just into the air, I see the sparks as excitement. We observe the whites do that a lot, but those bangers are harmful and they can even destroy the eardrum. I don’t like them personally. We celebrate the New Year eve by praying into the New Year, dancing and having refreshment. We blow up balloons and light up the bisco and dance.”
She added that they know the slogan “Ina Olorun Ko kin jo yan” meaning the light of God doesn’t burn stating that it’s just fun and there is no spiritual attachment to it.
Asked what bisco signifies in the church and its relation to the New Year, the pastor stated that it doesn’t signify anything specifically.
On her advice for people who shoot bangers in the church, Pastor Akinfiro stated thus, “It is not nice, it’s dangerous, and it should be stopped. People find it difficult to obey when they are stopped and I wonder why. We really need to be careful and stop so that we don’t spoil what should be a joyous celebration with accidents that are totally uncalled for,” she told INDEPENDENT.
With about two weeks left to Christmas, time will indeed tell if it is going to be the same story like years before.
