The Nigerian Government has inaugurated a Special Task Force on Public and Private Building Audit to prevent fire outbreaks and other emergency disasters in buildings.
Inaugurating the Task Force in Abuja, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Olumode Adeyemi Samuel, said the initiative became necessary to ensure that proper fire prevention facilities are installed in all buildings to avert fire outbreaks and promote compliance with public safety standards.
He explained that the event, themed “Strengthening Fire Safety Compliance in Public Buildings: A Call to Action for National Resilience,” underscores the renewed commitment of the Federal Fire Service to adopt proactive measures in fire risk management and prevent avoidable disasters.
The Controller General noted that the increasing cases of fire incidents in major cities such as the recent Afritower fire in Lagos and the plaza fire outbreaks in Abuja, highlight the urgent need for stricter enforcement of fire safety standards in public and commercial buildings.
He stated that the newly inaugurated Task Force has been mandated to among other things, Map public buildings nationwide and classify their respective fire risk levels;
Inspect facilities to determine their level of compliance with fire safety regulations; and Provide comprehensive recommendations to guide enforcement actions and policy decisions.
Controller General Adeyemi reaffirmed the Service’s unwavering commitment to protecting lives, property, and critical national assets, emphasizing that “fire safety is not a choice but a shared responsibility.
“The Task Force is chaired by Assistant Controller General of Fire, Bolarinde Tajudeen Muhammed, Head of the Inspection, Investigation, and Enforcement (I.I.E.) Department of the Federal Fire Service and other senior officers including the Deputy Controller of Operations (FCT Command), Provost Marshal, National Public Relations Officer, and the Legal Director as Secretariat,” he noted.
The Controller General however charged members to carry out their assignments with professionalism, integrity, and full dedication to the Service’s mandate of safeguarding public and private spaces.
He further urged owners and managers of public, private, and high-rise buildings to extend maximum cooperation to the Task Force during the audit exercise.