…..Pass bill for second reading
…As lawmakers ask security agencies to flush out criminals, probe of extra-judicial killings in Plateau
By Christiana Ekpa
A bill for Act to federal fire act, to provide for safety measures in buildings, regulations, and penalty for default has scaled through a second reading at the House of Representatives.
The bill seeks to put in place a legal framework for the establishment of requisite prevention mechanisms and global best practices and safety world standards of measures, regulations, and penalty for default.
Titled “A bill for an Act to Amend the Provisions of the the Fire Service Act, Cap.F29, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 and Make Provisions for the Establishment of Building Safety Measures, Regulations and Penalty for Default”, it was sponsored by Hon. Unyime Idem, member representing Ukanafun/Oruk Anam Federal Constituency of Akwa Ibom State.
Leading the debate on the general principle of the bill at Wednesday plenary, Idem said that fire outbreaks have been on tbe increase and so, needed a new measure to adequately tackle it.
He said: “Fire outbreaks in Nigeria have risen to a worldwide attention in recent years causing great loss to both the environmental and economic lives and Nigerian government and people have continued to record high loses as a result of fire disasters and outbreak and critical sectors of the nation’s economy and infrastructure are consumed by fire leaving in their trail huge economic loses to individuals and the nation at large.
Private homes, public buildings, markets, warehouses, sawmills, fuel tankers, educational establishments, shops, clubs, hotels, and restaurants are all victims of unpreparedness in management and fighting fire incidences.”
According to him, the bill has an amendment of about 6 sections, which were vital and significant to the management and prevention of fire disaster in the country.
He said: “In order for the innovation to be effective, Section 2 of the Principal Act is amended by adding the word “management. Section 5 of the Principal Act is amended by the introduction of fresh paragraph to read; “give approval for building after thorough perusal of the submitted building plan and compliance with provision of necessary fire services prevention and management kits and supervision protocols.
“Section 24 of the Principal Act is amended by inserting fresh sub-section to read: “Subsequent upon submission for an approval for a building compliance with the fire service protocol, the officials of the Fire service shall charge a particular fee to the intended developer and such funds shall be remitted to the covers of the Government of the Federation.
“Section 28 of the Principal Act is hereby amended by addition of fresh paragraph to read thus: “Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Act, or with any regulation or requirement made thereunder, for which no other penalty is specifically provided shall be guilty of an offence and on summary conviction thereof shall be liable to a fine not exceeding forty naira or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding two months or to both such fine and imprisonment”.
“Section 28 of the Principal Act is hereby and further amended by inserting to read thus: “Any person who contravenes or fails to comply with the provisions of Section 5 (e) of this Bill, or with any regulation or requirement made thereunder shall be guilty of an offence and on summary conviction thereof shall be liable to a fine not exceeding One Million Naira or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding five months or to both such fine and imprisonment”.
The bill when put to a voice vote got the support of the majority of the members.
In a related development, the House also urged the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Lucky Irabor, Director General of State Security Service, Yusuf Bichi and Inspector General of Police, Usman Baba to direct “Operation Save Heaven” to initiate a coordinated joint operation with other security agencies to flush out criminals within the system.
The House also mandated its Committees on Police Affairs, Interior, Defence and National Security to investigate the cases of extra-judicial killings in Jos and environs.
The resolutions were sequel to the consideration of a motion sponsored by Hon. Muhammad Adam Alkali, at the plenary on Wednesday.
Presenting the motion, Alkali recalled the reported cases of extra-judicial killings of innocent Nigerians by security operatives, on the 21 September, 2022, when 16 year Usman Bala was shot dead, while two others were injured by a Police Officer attached to the Division C of the Nigeria Police Force Jos, Plateau State.
He said “Also notes that on 4 December 2022, security operatives allegedly shot and killed one Magaji Ahmad, a
Keke NAPEP rider of Dutse Uku Area of Jos for exceeding the approved operations hours imposed by the State Government.
“Worried that if stringent security measures are not taken to safeguard the lives of the citizens in compliance
with Chapter 2 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) particularly Section 14 (2)(b) which states that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government; it might constitute a threat to national security.”
Adopting the motion, the House gave the committee six weeks within which to do the assignment and report back to the House for further legislative action.
