The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Abuja Operation Office, has sought the continued collaboration of the FCT Fire Service (FFS) in the area of response to emergencies.
The Head of Abuja Operation Office, NEMA, Mr Samuel Bitrus, made the request Wednesday in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the FFS, noting that the Service was a key stakeholder in terms of emergency responses hence the need to work together to prevent loses and protection of properties.
He said: “NEMA functions through fire service agency and it is important we collaborate because of what is happening now in the city particularly the incidences of fire. The frequency of fire is much and fire service is the lead agency as far as fire disaster, flood disasters and building collapse are concerned.
“We are going to be entering the flood season soon. So, it is important we perform this handshake to operate at the same page. We have to operate together. We don’t want to wait until fire incidents happened, so we need to begin collaboration early. We have always worked in collaborated with FCT Fire but this visit is to strengthen it, it is just a reminder to tighten our bond forward, for effective cooperation in terms of response to disaster.”
Responding, the Acting Director of the FFS, Engr. Sani Sa’idu, welcomed the collaboration idea, noting that the two organisations are just like brothers and sisters in terms of disaster response in the FCT.
While expressing displeasure on why people don’t call emergency numbers in times of fire emergency, Sa’idu said that his office would push for such law with the FCT Minister, adding that all residence of FCT were suppose to have emergency numbers of disaster response organisations pasted in their various houses in times of emergency.
Sa’idu disclosed that he would take the issue up where anyone without emergency response numbers in their various houses would sanctioned, adding that such idea would compel emergency officers like the fire officers to do their work.
“The public should call the following emergency numbers: 07003283473, 08103559512, 08103826117, 09069690707 and 07039374772 or 112 in times of emergency,” he said.
