The Federal Capital Territory Administration has expressed disappointment over the antics of some residents and business who specialise in manipulating gauges of fire extinguishers in their premises.
According to the Ag Director General of the FCT Emergency Management Department, FEMD, Engr. Abdulrahman Mohammed, these criminal elements have mattered the act of illegally pressurizing expired extinguishers to falsely indicate green gauge or filling them with substandard materials, which can fuel fires instead of suppressing them.
Engr. Mohammed disclosed this while introducing the newly inaugurated Nigeria Fire Extinguisher Control, NFEC, and the Gas Explosion Prevention System, GEPS, to the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Transport Secretariat, Chinedum Elechi, over the weekend.
He said, “In some cases these fraudsters use dry chemical powder (0,25kg instead of 0.9kg in a 10kg extinguisher), which constitutes a clear violation of the Nigeria Industrial standards, NIS.
While highlighting the importance of NFEC and GEPS in ensuring public safety, the FEMD boss emphasized the need for more awareness and joint enforcement, particularly in the transport sector, where fire extinguishers are crucial in preventing and responding to emergencies.
Also speaking, NFEC/GEPS Coordinator, Benson Olatunji stressed the need for sensitization, joint stakeholders enforcement, and vendor training within the fire extinguisher and gas LPG value chain.
“Unsafe practices emanating from these practices pose a threat to national security and public safety. The NFEC and GEPS initiative is a life-saving intervention for all hands to be on deck to achieve a safer society”. He said.
On his part, the Mandate Secretary of the FCT Transport Secretariat, Chinedum Elechi, commended the FEMD for the initiative, noting that most fire outbreaks are avoidable if the populace will adhere to the preventive guidelines put in place.
The secretary lamented that, “It’s disheartening to see a car burning on the road and people are helplessly watching with their supposed fire extinguishers in their hands but not functional.”
He expressed his willingness to support the team, adding that his office was open to ideas that will promote public safety.
