The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) says it is aiding law enforcement and other security agencies in dealing with climate-related concerns such as kidnappings, banditry, community clashes, and other issues.
Mr Olusade Adesola, FCTA’s Permanent Secretary, stated this at the FCT Emergency Management Agency’s (FMA) 2021 Flood Outlook and Review of FCT Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan (EPRP) on Wednesday in Abuja.
A number of events have transpired since the last appraisal of the FCT flotilla, including the advent of the COVID-19 virus, kidnappings, and other security concerns, Adesola stated.
According to him ; ” As an administration, we have taken steps to address these challenges such as supporting the police and other security agencies to be able to provide robust security for the territory and furthering the safer schools initiative.”
He also hinted that the FCT administration had continued to provide resources to maintain critical city infrastructure such as drainages and lighting up dark alleys.
Adesola, however, implored the Area Councils that are yet to constitute their emergency management committees to do so with utmost urgency.
” This is important and neccessary because gaps on the part of Area Councils can undermine the strength of the FCT Emergency Response Plan,” Adesola said.
FEMA’s Director General, Alhaji Abbas Idriss, previously stated that the organization had reacted to 82 flood cases in 2020, saving 421 lives and homes valued at about N102,851,000.
He added that; FEMA’s Search and Rescue Teams responded to 53 road crash incidents in the FCT in 2020, saving 89 lives and assets valued over N36 million.
FEMA reacted to 584 emergency calls related to fire outbreaks, saving 2029 lives while losing 15 lives and salvaging properties worth over N1 billion, according to the DG.
Similarly, he claimed the organization received 40 calls from the Internally Displaced Persons settlements about psychosocial difficulties, all of which were resolved attended to without loss of life.
He said; ” In summary, the Search and Rescue Team received and responded to a total of 768 distressed calls, out of which 27 were false alarm.
” On the same course, the FCT experience two building collapse in which three lives were lost, 34 lives rescued, while properties worth over N84 million was salvaged.
” Also in 2020, the agency responded to two cases of electrocution. This was as a result of tree branches coming in contact with power lines,” he said.
The DG, however , appealed to the Department of Parks and Recreation to intensify its monitoring activities to ensure that trees close to power lines are pruned to avoid loss of lives.
He said the event was a proactive step aimed at strategizing in terms of prevention, mitigation and response to flood prediction released by the Nigerian Hydrological Services Agency.
Also, Mr Clement Nze, the Director General, National Hydrological Services Agency, who commended FEMA for taken proactive measures to mitigate disaster in FCT, said the agency was the most active and proactive emergency management organisation in the country.
