Sanctions await those culpable for disasters in Abuja – FEMA

By Stanley Onyekwere

The FCT Emergency Management Agency has declared that sanctions will be activated against any person or organisation found culpable or responsible for disasters within the nation’s capital city.
Acting Director General of FEMA, Amb. Ibrahim Mohammed Sabo, made this known yesterday, during an interactive session with newsmen, in Abuja.
Sabo disclosed that the FCT Minister had constituted a committee to take actions against those violating fire safety measures in the FCT.
He noted that those found responsible for any disasters will be charged to court, adding that the Agency would no longer just respond to emergencies, especially in the case of building collapse or fire incidents.
“In the case of fire incidents, presently, His Excellency, the Honourable Minister, has constituted a committee to ensure that we don’t experience these fire disasters, and the measures that will be taken against all those that have violated the safety regulations regarding fire disasters.
“It will also interest you to know that the administration now has started taking action. If any disaster occurs within the FCT and anybody is culpable, he is going to be charged to court. There will be a measure that will be taken against that person or organization.
“It won’t be an incident before we just respond and take care of people and it goes like that, no. Somebody will have to take responsibility, especially in cases of building collapse and fire incidences”, he stressed.
Sabo further urged residents to insure their lives and properties against flooding and fire incidents, while calling on those building structures in the FCT to adhere to building codes, to avoid disasters.
He added that those who built on flood prone areas, must ensure that they build flood-resistant structures and adhere to sensitization messages during flooding.