The Federal Fire Service (FFS) Comptroller-General, Joseph Garba Anebi, has disclosed that only two of the 80 Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and public buildings inspected by the Service in Abuja have complied with fire safety regulations.

He stated this when the National Orientation Agency (NOA) Director General, Mike Omeri led his agency’s management team to the Headquarters of FFS at the weekend.

Anebi noted that the operations of the fire service go beyond fire-fighting and includes fire prevention through fire safety compliance assessment of properties, safety installations and fire code enforcement, observing that most fires were caused either by ignorance or carelessness.

He urged NOA to step up its fire safety awareness campaign.

The Fire Chief also called on MDAs and public organisations to show example by installing fire safety equipment and taking other necessary safety measures in their buildings while admonishing Nigerians to give away items in their homes which are no longer needed as such constitute impediments to fire fighting and emergency response.

Omeri described as alarming the non-compliance of most public and private buildings in the country to the National Fire Code which many property owners and developers deliberately circumvent.

He identified the need for a more robust public sensitisation on fire safety which he said informed the visit aimed at building synergy between NOA and FFS.

According to him, the State Directorates of NOA have been directed to work closely with the fire departments in their respective states to ensure that Nigerians are enlightened on how to prevent fire disasters and what to do in the event of a fire outbreak.

•Sourced from The Authority. Photo shows Nigeria's Fire Service Chief, Joseph Garba Anebi.

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