The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has demonstrated its commitment to safeguarding lives and property by successfully rescuing 4,880 individuals and protecting property valued at N99.3 million during various disaster incidents from January till now.
During a media interactive session held in Abuja on Tuesday, the acting Director-General of FEMA, Mr Ibrahim Sabo, shared the agency’s remarkable achievements. He highlighted that FEMA saved the lives of 1,842 individuals from fire incidents, rescued 174 victims of building collapses, and successfully responded to flood disasters, saving an additional 2,864 lives across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The value of property saved during fire outbreaks within the review period amounted to an impressive N99.3 million. Regrettably, only eight lives were lost due to building collapses and flooding incidents in the past nine months.
Sabo emphasized that most of these avoidable fatalities occurred as a result of flooding. He explained that FEMA takes proactive measures in flood-prone areas by implementing barricades and warning signs, while ensuring the continuous presence of vanguards to monitor the situation round the clock.
He further expressed gratitude for the wholehearted support received from the FCT Administration, which has been instrumental in enabling FEMA to fulfill its primary responsibility of preserving lives and property for FCT residents.
In an effort to prevent fire incidents, the FCT Minister, Mr Nyesom Wike, has established a committee to ensure strict adherence to safety measures. Going forward, anyone found responsible for any disaster within the FCT, whether it be fire outbreaks, flooding, or building collapses, will face legal consequences as they will be charged to court.
Sabo proudly announced that FEMA has successfully reduced the response time to emergencies from five minutes to an impressive three minutes. This achievement has been made possible through strengthened partnerships with sister agencies and the continuous enhancement of emergency response capabilities.
He further highlighted the agency’s commitment to staff capacity building and the training of volunteers, vanguards, town criers, and divers who serve as the first responders during emergencies.
Mrs Florence Wenegieme, the Director of Forecasting, Response and Mitigation at FEMA, urged residents to pay heed to the agency’s warnings to avoid preventable loss of life.
FEMA’s exceptional efforts have not only saved numerous lives but also preserved property valued at N99.3 million. The agency’s commitment to prompt emergency response, strengthened partnerships, and continuous staff training reflect its unwavering dedication to ensuring the safety and welfare of FCT residents.
