In a bid to provide a proactive fire fight, the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency, FEMA, has called for a review of the Fire Service Act of 1963 to put it in line with current realities.
A statement issued by the Agency in Abuja which was signed by the Head of Public Relations Unit, Mrs Nkechi Isah and sent to CAPITAL POST on Tuesday, says, the Act has become obsolete and limits the enforcement powers of emergency agencies in carrying out their duties.
The statement quotes the Director-General of FEMA, Alhaji Abbas Idriss, as emphasizing that the laws must be reviewed for public safety.
“Is there any law that empowers the firemen to vett a building from the beginning of the construction to the end? They are supposed to be there from inception. ” He said
Alhaji Idriss informed that in the FCT, emergency agencies rely on the Urban and Regional Planning Act to carry out enforcement.
He disclosed that at least an average of 5 fires are recorded daily in the FCT, noting that this was a high rate.
According to the DG, most of the fires were avoidable and could be traced to carelessness or willful acts.
The FEMA boss appealed to FCT residents to dial the toll-free number 112 if they sight or sense anything strange or unusual.
CAPITAL POST earlier reported that one of the biggest shopping mall, Next Cash and Carry located at Kado in the Federal Capital Territory, was gutted by fire leading to destruction of goods running to millions of naira.
