The FCT Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, has called for the establishment of a Safety Commission, so as to guard against incidences of fire outbreaks and gas explosions in the territory.
Director General of FEMA, Abbas Idriss, said the proposed commission will take charge of the responsibility of issuing operating licenses and effectively curb the proliferation of liquid natural gas (cooking gas) and petrol outlets in the FCT.
Idriss, who made the call at a news conference in Abuja, warned that the failure to set up such a commission exposes the FCT to more risk of fires and explosions that could cause great havoc in the nation’s capital.
He disclosed that in furtherance to the advocacy, they had even gone to some states to do some understudy, to see what they are doing.
According to him: “We are advocating that we should have a Safety Commission in the FCT, which will take charge of the responsibility of issuing operating licenses. Because, most of these gas stations don’t operate the way they are supposed to as they don’t have the training and adequate staffing to handle such ventures.
“So, we have written for it, and we will continue to advocate for such sustainable intervention. We had a committee on incessant gas explosion in FCT, but that doesn’t mean that we are not taking actions.
“Now, with the recent fire incidence in three filling stations, we have revisited those actions, and we are awaiting response from the FCT Minister. Definitely, something good is coming out. It is a concern that we can’t ignore, as it is part of responsibility. We had even gone to some states to do some understudy, to see what they are doing.
“So if we don’t have safety Commission established and regulated by the FCTA that will ensure that they train each operators of gas outlets and filling stations to follow the right protocol required of them, we are going to have fires and explosions that are going to cause much havoc in the FCT”.
Furthermore, the FEMA boss revealed that in 2022, the Agency intervened in post fire disaster in various parts of the FCT as well as responded to 10 fire incidents, including 3 filling station fires, where 16 lives were saved.
On FEMA’s action plan for 2023, the DG said the agency intends to continue with a spillover of activities of the previous year which include operation eagle eye and dry season early warning campaign.
He added that FEMA will continue with dry season sensitization on Radio, Television and other hand, social media platforms as well as at market places and residential areas.