Market inferno: FEMA salvages N1.2bn goods in 2021

The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency, (FEMA) salvaged estimated goods and properties worth over N1.264 billion from market fire outbreaks between January and December 2021.

Also, the Agency revealed that a total number of 3,715 lives were saved in various rescue operations within the same period.

FEMA Director-General, Abbas Idriss, who made this disclosure while briefing newsmen, said major disasters that occurred in 2021 in the FCT included flooding, market fires and building collapse.

Idriss disclosed that 2,025 lives were saved from flooding in the FCT, with the highest figure of 802, coming from the Trademore Estate flood incident in Lugbe, while 5 lives were lost to flooding in the area.

He added that FEMA rescued 1,444 persons from various fire rescue operations in the Ebeano Super Market fire, where 74 persons were rescued, the Kugbo furniture market with 102 lives saved and 300 lives from the Gwarimpa old tipper garage fire.

According to him, the Agency recovered 26 vehicles during the rescue operations while 183 houses were submerged during the period under review.

He revealed that the Agency recorded an increase in the use of its112 toll-free emergency number, as it received 173 distress calls in 2021, as against 153 in 2020.

According to him, ”Between January and December 2021, FEMA responded to 173 distress calls. These calls covered the response to flood disasters, fire incidents, collapsed buildings, drowning, gas explosions etc.

“Other rescue operations attended to in 2021 included incidents of collapsed buildings, where we were able to rescue 17 persons; we however lost 2 lives.

“Drowning incidents claimed one life while we rescued 7 persons from various rivers. We recorded 2 incidents of gas explosions, thankfully no lives were lost. We also lost 7 lives to a military air crash.

“The Agency salvaged estimated goods and properties worth over N1.264 billion from market fire outbreaks last year.

“We believe in proactive measures to mitigate disasters hence we undertook hazard mapping of the FCT, vulnerability assessment as well as deployment of technology in our operations. These greatly enhanced our performance in 2021,” the FEMA boss stated. (VON)