Metro

Fire outbreak: FEMA seeks Safety Commission for FCT

By Stanley Onyekwere

In order to ensure sustainable mitigation of loss of lives and property to incessant fire outbreaks and explosions from gas and fuel outlets in Abuja, the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has advocated for establishment of a Safety Commission for Territory.

The Director General of FEMA, Alhaji Abbas Idriss who disclosed this yesterday, during a press briefing, in Abuja, said the proposed Commission will take charge of the responsibility of issuing operating licenses and effectively curb the proliferation of liquid (cooking) gas and petrol outlets in the FCT.

Idriss however, warned that if such Commission was not established, FCT is going to have fires and explosions that are going to cause much 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, 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 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 thing 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, he said it 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.

Kayode Egbetokun AIG Zone 7 Headquarters Abuja, presenting a gift to the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad during the visit of the AIG to the FCTA, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

DOAS harps on boosting FCT IGR profile

By Stanley Onyekwere

The Director, FCT Department of Outdoor Advertisement and Signage (DOAS), Babagana Adam has bemoaned inability to maximally generate and channel all revenues to government coffers as a result of the illegal activities of the some cabals, thereby frustrating reinvigorated efforts to boost the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) profile of the FCT.

Adam, who revealed to Journalists in Abuja, recently, while highlighting the setbacks the FCT administration has endured due to the situation, however, vowed to fight them till the end, to ensure the right things are done.

He said: “Some people have turned revenue collection into their inheritance and dynasty. There are cabals that are frustrating DOAS efforts to generate more revenue for the administration.

“They are handing over the right of generating revenue to their families and cronies. I received a letter yesterday from the wife of a late cabal that has been feasting on the sweats of Abuja residents collecting illegal adverts.

“There’s a construction company that is one of the first three in Abuja that has been fraternising with this family. While that company pays nothing less than N40 million on mobile Advertisement, this money has never been remitted in total for Abuja Municipal Area Council for the past three years, and I have been running a battle at the risk of my life and the lives of some of my colleagues that were attacked and some of you journalists.

“That contractor was given a target of N30 million and I discovered in 2019 or in 2020, the person only reluctantly remitted N11 million naira out of the N30 million. Where is the balance for the year of N19 million.

“Secondly, there is a company I fought from head to toe, may be that is why some of them gave up and left. Some of you will remember the Abuja Municipal Trade and Investment, that company is a dynasty and a clug of progress on AMAC and the FCT”.

“I like pledging, till I leave DOAS or out of government responsibilities, I and my colleagues, if my colleagues like, I will fight them to the last drop of my blood to see that the right things are done and the right money goes into government coffers, then I will surrender”.