Togo’s Capital City Lomé ⁤Lacks Adequate Fire Protection

Togo ⁣has faced numerous fires in recent years, affecting several cities, with the capital city Lomé being ⁤particularly vulnerable. Despite being the ‍country’s showcase, Lomé ​has only one ‍fire station, which is inadequately equipped‍ to ⁢handle large-scale ⁢fires.

The city of‍ Lomé continues to​ expand, with several dozen peripheral areas added to the ‌city center. However, ⁤all 7 communes, including⁢ Baguida, Aflao⁢ Sagbado, Bè, Aflao Gakli, ‌and⁢ others, rely on a single fire station located west of the city center in the Nyékonakpoè area.

The inadequacy of this structure was exposed ‍during the 2013 fires that⁤ ravaged the large market of Lomé. The intervention of firefighters from neighboring Ghana was necessary to bring the disaster under control.

A Decade of⁤ Inaction

More than 10 years after the 2013 fires, the Togolese government has failed to address ‍the issue, despite the occurrence ‌of several other fires in the capital. The lack of action has resulted in an extraordinary deficit, putting private and public homes and‌ businesses⁤ at risk.

The recent fires at the market of Kégué and⁣ the Autonomous​ Port of Lomé have highlighted the need for modern equipment and additional fire stations. However, there appears⁢ to ⁢be no plan‍ in place to provide each of⁤ Lomé’s‌ 7 communes⁣ with a fire⁣ station⁤ equipped with modern⁣ equipment.

A ‍Lack of‍ Foresight

The lack⁢ of foresight in addressing the fire protection issue is characteristic of ​Faure Gnassingbe’s regime, which has been in power for almost two decades. Effective ⁤governance requires ⁤planning, and ​the absence of such planning has ​put the country at risk.

Source: alternative.info