By Stanley Onyekwere
A total of 32 lives and property worth N651.5 million were saved from various fire outbreaks and emergency services in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), in the past six months.
According to the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, who made the disclosure, there were 103 Fire and 32 rescue calls in the month of January 2014, which the FCT Administration promptly and effectively responded to.
He said the FCTA would continue with the policy of timely and prompt response by way of physical/psychological support to people prone to/already affected by disaster in the Territory.
A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT minister, Muhammad Sule, said the minister made this revelation after a meeting with some senior officials of the administration, in his office, on Monday.
“There would be a deliberate policy on the part of his Administration for sound capacity building for staff of FCT Emergency Management Agency, in order to expose them to international best practices in tandem with the vision of the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
“The FCT Administration also intends to train community vanguards for volunteers’ services, apart from strengthening Schools’ Club on disaster and volunteers,” the statement quoted the minister.
It added that the minister said his Administration likewise plans to establish local emergency management committees at the headquarters of all the six Area Councils of the FCT, at all community as well as the Ward levels across the 8,000 square kilometers of the Territory.
Mohammed also assured that his Administration would maintain regular collaboration with stakeholders on disaster/emergency management, and would regularly communicate with the FCT residents on early warning signs.
“While noting that the FCT Administration would improve on its emergency response time, the Minister stated that his Administration has concluded plans to establish Fire Marshalls to promote community participation and improve fire prevention within such communities,” the statement added.
