By Sarah NEGEDU
The FCTA Department of Fire Service has described the existing fire prevention and fighting laws as weak and not enough to curtail the level of negligence by managers of business premises.
This observation is coming in the wake of the disturbing fire incidences recorded in petroleum stations across the territory in recent times.
Director of the FCT Fire Service, Engr. Sani Saidu, is therefore seeking an amendment to the existing laws, to provide for stiffer punishment for petrol station owners who violate safety rules.
Saidu, while briefing the media yesterday, lamented that despite the routine sensitization by the service, fire inferno at petrol stations around the nation’s capital has continued to increase.
Saidu noted that while the service have intensified its monitoring and supervision at petrol stations, it has become necessary to ask for amendment to the existing legislation.
He regretted that the standard best practice of allowing petrol loaded trucks arriving their destination to cool down before discharging, have been grossly flouted, adding that discharging of petroleum products is usually best done in a conducive weather temperature, but owners and operators always disregard it.
Saidu further stated that while it will be difficult to post firemen to every petrol stations for close monitoring, it would be important to have a law for punishing those who discard the rules.
