By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Acting Director General of the FCT Emergency Management Agency, Ambassador Ibrahim Mohammed Sabo, on Tuesday disclosed that the Agency has saved a total of 4,880 lives and properties N99.3 million naira in various disasters in the FCT, within the current year.
Sabo who disclosed this at a media briefing in Abuja on Tuesday stated that FEMA saved 1,842 lives from fire incidences, 174 lives from building collapses, and 2,864 lives from floodings across the FCT, in 2023.
Breaking down the figures, he explained that the Agency saved properties worth N99.3m from fire outbreaks, adding that in the past 9 months, a total of eight lives were lost in building collapse and flooding incidences.
“Our major responsibility is saving lives and property of FCT residents, and with the full support we are having from the FCT administration, we have been able to save about 1,842 lives, that’s in all fire incidences that occurred within the FCT, and no life was lost completely. And we have been able to save properties worth about N99.3 million, that is on fire outbreaks.”
Sabo further disclosed that the Agency was also able to save 174 lives. “We lost four unfortunately, during building collapse. And in the case of flooding, in total, we have been able to save 2,864 lives.”
The FEMA boss decried the loss of lives to flood incidents, adding most deaths of the victims were avoidable.
“We have lost four unfortunately, during flooding. Most of these lives that were lost during flooding, a lot in essence, are avoidable. In most of these flood-prone areas, we have barricades, and we normally place a sign there, warning people about the issue of flooding in those areas. And we have our vanguards that are stationed there 24 hours.”
Sabo revealed that the FCT Minister has constituted a committee to take court actions against those fire safety measures in public buildings.
Furthermore, FEMA Director, Forecasting Response and Mitigation, Florence Wenegieme has urged residents to adhere to warnings by the Agency regarding disasters and obey the marshals and instructions on dos and donts during emergencies.
