Fire Disasters: FCT Rescues N1bn Property

Property valued at N1.1 billion were saved from fire in Nigeria’s Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja between January and March, 2013.

A press release from the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT  Minister, Mr Mohammad Sule, made available to The Tide, revealed that the FCT administration saved property valued at N258.2 million in January.

According to the release, “FCT administration saved property valued at N1.1 billion between January and March while N257.9 million worth of property was lost during the same period.  Property valued at N258.2 million was saved in January, N594.2 million saved in February and N286.4 million in March 2013.

The release stated that 75 persons were rescued from fire due to prompt response to distress calls in Abuja between January and March 2013 and that eight  persons lost their lives during the rescue mission.

A breakdown  of the figure showed that 21, 21 and 33 persons were rescued in January, February and March 2013, respectively.

The statement also explained that the FCT Urban Affairs Department received 162 fire distress calls and that 56 of them were received in January, 61 received in February while 45 distress fire calls were received in March, 2013.

The press release also revealed that the FCT minister commended staff of the department for their proactiveness in handling emergencies and enjoined them to redouble their efforts to further reduce the number of casualties in the future.