The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, has warned that it will soon commence the arrest and prosecution of residents responsible for any form of disaster within the territory.
Acting Director General of the agency, Ibrahim Sabo, who gave the warning at an interactive session with newsmen on Tuesday, said those responding for any form of disaster in the FCT, such as fire, flood or building collapse would no longer go scot-free.
Sabo revealed that with the support of the administration, the agency has been able to save 2,864 lives in various flood disasters in the FCT since this year, while 1,842 lives were equally saved in fire incidents, just as 174 lives were rescued during building collapse within the same period.
He said the FCT Minister had constituted a committee to take actions against those who violated fire safety measures in the FCT, adding that those found culpable will be charged to court, as the Agency would no longer just respond to emergencies, especially in the case of building collapse or fire incidents.
“In the case of fire incidents, presently, His Excellency, the Honourable Minister, has constituted a committee to ensure that we don’t experience these fire disasters, and the measures that will be taken against all those that have violated the safety regulations regarding fire disasters.
“It will also interest you to know that the administration now has started taking action. If any disaster occurs within the FCT and anybody is culpable, he is going to be charged to court. There will be a measure that will be taken against that person or organization.
“It won’t be an incident before we just respond and take care of people and it goes like that, no. Somebody will have to take responsibility, especially in cases of building collapse and fire incidences”.
Sabo further urged residents to insure their lives and properties against flooding and fire incidents, while calling on those building stuctures in the FCT to adhere to building codes, to avoid disasters.
He added that those who built on flood prone areas, must ensure that they build flood-resistant structures and adhere to sensitization messages during flooding.
Sabo revealed that with the support of the administration, the agency has been able to save 2,864 lives in various flood disasters in the FCT since this year, while 1,842 lives were equally saved in fire incidents, just as 174 lives were rescued during building collapse within the same period.
He added that the agency also saved property worth N99.3 million within the same period, while eight lives were, however, lost to both building collapse and flooding in the same period under review.
The acting director general said the agency has embarked on aggressive sensitisation of FCT residents on flood and fire and flood disasters in the territory, adding that the sensitisation exercise has reduced the number of distress call received by the agency.
Sabo said response period by the agency for distress calls in any part of FCT is now three minutes, as against five minutes period, adding that FEMA has strengthen its relationship with other sister agencies, such as the development control department, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board and others to reduce disasters in the territory.
He continued, “We have also been able to strengthen the capacity of our staff and equally trained our volunteers, vanguards, town criers and divers, who are the first respondents during emergencies.”
The director general, however, advised residents to strictly adhere early warnings and take it very serious, while individuals should take insurance of themselves against disasters, such as fire and flooding, also adhering to building code on the construction of buildings.
