Frequent Explosions in Nigerian Barracks: Barracks relocation neither feasible nor realistic, by Abubakar M Kareto
Following a thorough examination of the recent explosion at a military armory located at Giwa Barracks in Maiduguri, and the identical 2002 incident at Ikeja Barracks in Lagos, two prevailing opinions emerged: some advocated for the relocation of the barracks (I am one), while others disagreed, pointing out that in many countries, barracks are situated within major cities, a fact that I subsequently confirmed.
You see, even Giwa Barracks was initially situated on the outskirts, over time, it found itself in the midst of communities and for instance, what are we going to do with all the Barracks in Lagos? It is nearly impossible to relocate them all. If you build a barracks on the outskirts today, in the next 30 or 40 years it will be in the city.
Then what exactly went wrong and how can such situations be averted? It is absurd to suggest that temperature pushes your armoury to be exploded, as weapon storage is a serious business in the army and the armed forces.
In fact, working in military armories and handling explosives is a highly specialised profession that requires extensively trained personnel who are experts in explosives and other dangerous materials, tasked with safe disposal or maintenance. The job demands extensive knowledge, skill, and a high level of responsibility due to the inherent dangers involved.
In the US Army, for instance, Munitions Systems Specialists (MSS) are personnel who work with various types of munitions, including bombs, missiles, and other explosive ordnance, managing their storage, maintenance, and transport, and forming an integral part of the armed forces.
Again, the question Nigerians should be asking and wanting to know is definitely how countries such as Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, Iran that experience higher temperatures than Nigeria manage to maintain their arsenal of explosives. I think we need to learn from them.
Lastly, the Nigerian Army needs to avoid such incidences of explosives exploding in military barracks or bases by strictly adhering to procedural norms in armoury storage and management, what happened at Ikeja and Giwa Barracks were both avoidable.
Abubakar M. Kareto is a Nigerian Public Affairs Analyst with keen interest in national, continental and global contemporary affairs.
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