Piqued by incessant disasters across the country, the Federal Fire Service (FFS) has commenced initiatives to audit public and private buildings to ensure compliance with building regulations and the safety of lives and properties.
The Controller General of the FFS, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, has inaugurated a Special Task Force on Public and Private Buildings Audit to carry out the assignments.
Adeyemi said the Task Force became necessary considering recent developments in Nigeria, where lives and properties were being lost to fire incidents that could not have happened in the first place if those concerned had adhered strictly to building regulations.
Adeyemi, who performed the inauguration at the Service Headquarters in Abuja, made references to the recent Afriland tower fire disaster in Lagos and the infernos that gutted several plazas in Abuja. He said the development is unacceptable and should be stopped through a proactive mechanism.
“The frequency of these incidents underscores the urgency of enforcing safety standards. Fire safety is not a choice but a shared responsibility,” the Controller General said.
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He said the Task Force should immediately begin mapping public buildings across the country, classifying them by risk levels, inspecting compliance, and submitting actionable recommendations to guide enforcement and policy decisions.
The Task Force is chaired by Assistant Controller General Bolarinde Muhammed, Head of the Inspection, Investigation, and Enforcement Department. It also comprises senior officers from Operations, Legal, and Public Relations units of the Service.
The Controller General urged members of the Task Force to carry out their mandate with professionalism and integrity. He also called on property owners and managers of high-rise and public facilities to cooperate fully with the audit team.
Adeyemi expressed the commitment of the Service to protect lives, property, and critical infrastructures across the country, emphasising that prevention of fire disasters through compliance was now non-negotiable.