FCT to expect more explosions, fires, FEMA raises alarm

The Federal Capital Territory FCT Emergency Management Agency FEMA has argued for the rapid creation of a Safety Commission for the territory, stating concerns that the capital of the country is too prone to fires and gas explosions.

The proposed Commission will be in charge of issuing operating licenses and effectively controlling the proliferation of liquid (cooking) gas and petrol outlets in the FCT, according to Alhaji Abbas Idriss, director general of FEMA, who made this announcement at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja.

Idriss however warned that if such Commission was not established, FCT could witness more fires and explosions, with all its attendant effects on the city’s multi-million dollar infrastructure.

He disclosed that in furtherance of the advocacy, the agency had gone to some states to understudy them.

He said; “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 requisite training and adequate personnel 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 explosions in the FCT, but that doesn’t mean that we are not taking action.

“Now, with the fire incidents in three filling stations, we have revisited those actions, and we are awaiting a 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 our responsibilities. We had even gone to some states to do some understudy, to see what they are doing.

“So, if we don’t have a safety commission established and regulated by the FCTA that will ensure that they train each operator 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”.

With concerns that the nation’s capital is too vulnerable to fires and gas explosions, the Federal Capital Area FCT Emergency Management Agency FEMA has pushed for the quick creation of a Safety Commission for the territory.

Alhaji Abbas Idriss, director general of FEMA, who made this announcement at a news conference on Wednesday in Abuja, said the proposed Commission will be in charge of providing operating licenses and successfully controlling the development of liquid (cooking) gas and petrol outlets in the FCT.