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Tag: FEMA

  • ‘I ran out naked’ – Victim of Abuja building collapse recounts scary experience

    ‘I ran out naked’ – Victim of Abuja building collapse recounts scary experience

    One of the victims of a two-storey building collapsed in the Kubwa area of Abuja has narrated his experience.

    TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) earlier reports that  a two-storey residential apartment beside Cupid Hotel on Cupid Road (Sultan Dasuki Way) in Kubwa, collapsed on Saturday morning in Abuja, leaving several people trapped in the rubble.

    The Acting Director General of Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) Florence Dawon Wenegieme in a statement on Saturday said four persons were rescued alive from the rubbles of a collapsed two-storey building.

    She added that search and rescue effort would continue until responders reached ground zero.

    Speaking about the incident, a security guard attached to the building, Ibrahim Bitrus, disclosed that about 15 residents were able to escape from the building, before it collapsed.

    Also speaking about the incident, Masud said one of his neighbours had earlier drawn his attention to a cracked wall, close to the stair case in the building.

    “I later noticed an unfamiliar sound from several parts of the building while I was taking my bath in the morning. I managed to run out naked. I learnt that other people were able to escape too, leaving only one lady stranded at the time. It was while in the hospital that my girlfriend was brought too.”

    Another resident who did not disclose her identity said, “I heard a rumbling sound around 7am. I thought it was from my next compound, only for me to rush here and I heard commotion. So I went to the front and saw that the building had collapsed.

    “They have been trying to rescue people. FEMA is around. Fire service is also around. They have rescued some people. They are still trying to rescue more people. They are people still trapped inside.”

    The incident is coming hours after a secondary school collapsed in Jos, Plateau capital, killing at least 22 and leaving over 100 injured.

  • FEMA barricades collapsing Dogon Gada bridge to avert loss of lives [Photo]

    FEMA barricades collapsing Dogon Gada bridge to avert loss of lives [Photo]

    The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has barricaded Dogon Gada box culvert, which is on the verge of being collapsed to avert loss of lives.

    Mrs Florence Wenegieme, Director, Forecasting, Response and Mitigation, FEMA, who led the exercise in Abuja on Sunday, described the development as a disaster waiting to happen.

    Wenegieme explained that the culvert was on the access road that linked Lokogoma village popularly known as Dogon Gida community to Ring Road II.

    She described the culvert as one of the vulnerable locations in the FCT, particularly to flooding during the rainy season.

    According to her, many members of the community have lost their lives while trying to cross the culvert during the rainy season due to flooding.

    “Dogon Gada community is one of the vulnerable locations in the FCT, particularly to flooding during the rainy season.

    “Every year, we record loss of lives in this location, especially to flooding. Now the rain is becoming very heavy, and you can see that the box culvert is on the verge of collapsing.

    “The shoulders are already sinking, and parts of the bridge are already broken.

    “We tried to stop vehicular movement along the road to no avail, and to avert further loss of lives, we have decided to barricade the road completely.”

    Mrs Florence Wenegieme, Director, Forecasting, Response and Mitigation, FEMA (in green), after an assessment of the volatile cracks on Dogon Gada Box Culvert, in Abuja on Sunday.

    She noted that the area was under Phase III of the Abuja Master Plan, adding that the development of the area was yet to commence, as the development of Phase II was ongoing.

    She, nonetheless, stressed the need for a standard box culvert to be constructed in the location to enable the community members to have access to the expressway (Ring Road II).

    She explained that the barricade was a temporary mitigative measure pending when the culvert would be constructed.

    “From this location to the express road is about 10 minutes, but the alternative access road will take them about an hour, which is better than loss of lives,” she said.

    The Ward Head of Lokogoma Village, Mr Irimiya Kanpani, explained that the box culvert was constructed in 2016 through community efforts.

    Kanpani also said that every year, the community members, about 3,000 mobilise resources to maintain the culvert until it finally gave way a few days ago.

    He appealed to the Federal Government, the FCT Minister and the Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council to come to their aid.

    He said that the community had approached a contractor who said they would need more than N500 million to construct a standard bridge.

    The ward head added that so far, members of the community have contributed N2 million to support the construction of a befitting bridge for the community, adding that the donation was ongoing.

    “There is no year that we don’t lose a brother, a friend, a father, a mother, or a sister here.

    “Our youths are gone and many of my friends have died in this location. Government should please come to our aid,” he pleaded.

    Kanpani added that the alternative access road to the community was through Dakwo village by Santos Estate culvert, which was also being flooded every year because of its low elevation.

    “This means that, if the culvert is not constructed and the rains commenced, we will be completely cut off, with no access, in or out of the community,” he said.

  • Rains: FEMA warns FCT residents against disaster

    Rains: FEMA warns FCT residents against disaster

    The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), has admonished residents of FCT to heed early warnings to avert avoidable disasters during the rainy season.

    The acting Director-General of the agency, Mr Mohammed Sabo, gave the admonition in a statement in Abuja on Thursday.

    This followed the 2024 Seasonal Climate Prediction unveiled by the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) and the first rain experienced in FCT in the early hours of Thursday.

    Sabo specifically appealed to FCT residents to clear blocked drainages and clogged gutters to ensure free flow of water throughout the rainy season.

    He said that disasters could occur during the onset of the rains due to violent storms associated with the season and called for caution.

    He also appealed to residents who reside along water channels to relocate.

    He assured residents that FEMA would continue to sensitise residents to what to do before, during, and after the rains.

    Sabo urged residents to always use the 112 emergency toll-free number in the event of a disaster.

    Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) in its 2024 SCP, predicted delay of 2024 rains onset  in the North Central states of the country.

    Specifically in FCT, the onset of rain was predicted to commence in May across the six Area Councils and end in November.

    However, some parts of the territory witnessed the first rain in the early morning of Thursday.

    The light rain which started half hour into the new day, about 12.30a.m., lasted about 25 minutes, stopping at 12.55a.m.

    The unexpected rain which was devoid of lightning, heavy winds and thunderstorms was witnessed at Kubwa, Bwari Area Council, Garki in Abuja Municipal Area Council.

    The rain was also witnessed in Dutse, Zuba, Bwari, Gwagwalada and Mararaba.

    Residents of the areas had expressed mixed feelings over the rain.

  • Idriss bows out of FEMA after 10 years as DG

    Idriss bows out of FEMA after 10 years as DG

    Dr Abbas Idriss, on Wednesday, officially bowed out of the Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) as its pioneer Director-General (DG), after serving  the agency for 10 years.

    Idriss was appointed as the pioneer DG of the agency in 2013 and served for 10 years until his retirement in September 2023.

    Idriss described his experience as very fulfilling while speaking  at a send-off ceremony organised in his honour by the leadership of the agency in Abuja.

    He, however, said that much needed to be done to position the agency in its rightful position to make the desired impact.

    He emphasised training and retraining as crucial to achieving the mandate of the agency, adding that any untrained brain would not generate fresh ideas.

    He commended all FEMA stakeholders whose partnership he said had  been crucial to driving the successes recorded in the last 10 years.

    The former FEMA boss expressed regret that the  Bill that established FEMA had not been assented to ,adding that that  was affecting the strength and growth potential of the agency.

    “It is my hope that the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike would look into the issue and facilitate the signing of the FEMA bill to strengthen the operational efficiency of the Agency.

    “In furtherance of the agency’s success, the management must prioritise the issue of staff training in relevant courses capable of improving the operational efficiency of all departments.

    “Great attention must also be given to staff welfare to keep their morale high,” he said.

    The acting DG, Mr Mohammed Sabo, said that Idriss and his team nurtured the agency to the enviable heights attained presently.

    Sabo said that over the years, Idriss’ unwavering commitment, visionary leadership and tireless dedication had played a pivotal role in shaping the landscape of emergency management within the territory.

    According to him, Idriss’ tenure was marked by integrity, professionalism, and steadfast dedication to the principle of public service.

    On her part, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, Director, Forecasting, Response and Mitigation, FEMA, described Idriss as a workaholic, a mentor, and a seasoned professional with passion.

    According to her, the pioneer DG laid the very foundation upon which FEMA was built and positioned it on the path of progress.

    Also, Mr Adesola Olusade, the immediate past Permanent Secretary, FCTA, said that Idriss’s due diligence and hard work had strengthened local response to emergency situations.

    According to him, the success of the pioneer DG will be measured by the number of disasters that were avoided in the FCT under his stewardship.

    On his part, Mr Soji Adeniyi, the Convener, African Network for Disaster Risk Reduction, expressed excitement that Idriss was leaving the agency very strong.

    “This is someone who genuinely believes in the need for us to have an agency for disaster management and from scratch he has been able to build it to the level it is today.

    “I recalled that the very first training I facilitated for them, they were less than 10 staff and the last training I facilitated for them before he left office, they were over 48 staff.

    “That is to tell you the trajectory of the growth that they went through over the years, but he still has a lot to give for the benefit of the staff,” he said.

    The pioneer DG was honoured with a Pioneer DG Award and an Exemplary Leadership Award by the staff of the agency.

  • FEMA rescues construction worker trapped in collapsed structure in Abuja

    FEMA rescues construction worker trapped in collapsed structure in Abuja

    The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has rescued a construction worker trapped in a collapsed building under construction.

    The worker was trapped when a part of a building under construction, close to Taj Bank in the Central Business District, Abuja, collapsed on Saturday around 3:30 p.m.

    Mr Nkechi Isa, Head of Public Affairs, FEMA, made this known in a statement in Abuja.

    Isa said that the victim was part of the labourers casting the first floor of the building when the entire cast fell on him.

    She said that the victim had been rescued and taken to the Trauma Centre of the National Hospital, Abuja for medical attention.

    She added that FEMA was alerted around 4:00 p.m. after the construction workers’ unsuccessful attempts to rescue their trapped colleague.

    “FEMA’s Search and Rescue Team and the FCT Fire Service responded to the distress call and were able to rescue the trapped man with the aid of extrication equipment and the construction company’s excavator,” she said.

    Reacting to the development, Mr Mohammed Sabo, acting Director-General of FEMA, appealed to developers to always adhere to the building codes to avert recurrence of building collapse.

    Soba, who was personally at the scene of the rescue operation, also advised construction companies and developers against using substandard materials and sharp practices during building constructions.

    He urged developers to prioritise the safety of workers and the future occupants of any building under construction.

  • BREAKING: 2 dead, 37 rescued in Abuja building collapse

    BREAKING: 2 dead, 37 rescued in Abuja building collapse

    Two persons have been confirmed dead and 37 others were rescued from the rubbles of a two-storey building that collapsed on Lagos Street, opposite the Garki police station, Garki Village, in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) late Wednesday night during a heavy downpour.

    The director-general of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), Dr. Abbas Iddriss, while confirming the incident, said 37 persons had so far been rescued at the scene of the collapsed structure, while two others were fatally injured.

    Idriss said the affected persons had been evacuated to various medical facilities in the FCT, while some people were still trapped in the rubbles.

    He said the heavy downpour had slowed down the rescue operations.

    “Rescue team and others are on the ground. Rescue operations are on but slowly due to ongoing rain. They are making frantic efforts at getting an excavator to remove people from the rubble,” he had stated late Wednesday night.

    The director general commended the efforts of all stakeholders working hard manually to rescue trapped persons, including members of the community.

    He revealed that rescue missions have continued while they await the arrival of equipment to enhance the operations

    A combined team of FEMA, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), FCT Police Command, and the VIO have intensified efforts to search for more victims who were still trapped under the rubbles.

    The collapsed two-storey building was reported to have served both residential and commercial purposes.

     

  • Flood submerges 116 houses at Trademore Estate – FEMA

    Flood submerges 116 houses at Trademore Estate – FEMA

    The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says 116 houses have been affected by flood at Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja.

    Dr Abbas Idriss, the Director-General, FEMA, said this in a statement signed by Nkechi Isa, the Head, Public Affairs, FEMA, on Friday in Abuja.

    He said that 116 houses were submerged, but no life was lost, following a heavy downpour that started in the early hours of the day.

    Idriss said that the flood which was caused by infractions on the water channels, had made the Estate to be vulnerable to flooding.

    The FEMA boss dismissed social media reports alleging that a resident of the estate was missing as a result of the flood.

    He however appealed to residents whose houses were built on water channels to relocate.

    Idriss who said that the Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency (NIHSA) had predicted heavy flooding in the FCT this year, also advised residents living on flood-prone areas to relocate.

    He called on the residents to use the 112 Emergency toll-free number to report emergencies.

  • FCT: Slip road by Galadimawa roundabout closed to motorists

    FCT: Slip road by Galadimawa roundabout closed to motorists

    The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says it will close the slip road by Galadimawa Interchange/Roundabout to motorists on Thursday, May 11.

    The Director, Forecasting Response Mitigation of FEMA, Mrs Florence Wenegieme, made this known in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.

    Wenegieme said that with the onset of the rains, it has become expedient to close the low-level slip road to safeguard the lives and property of FCT residents.

    She said that the agency regrets any inconveniences the closure might cause the public.

    “The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) wishes to notify the public that the slip road by the Galadimawa Interchange/Roundabout will be closed to vehicular movement from Thursday, May 11.”

    The director called on all the residents to avoid anything that would cause flooding in the FCT.

    Wenegieme advised the residents to always call the 112 Toll-Free Emergency Number for a prompt response from the agency.

    The agency on November 10, 2022, unblocked the slip at Galadimawa Interchange, after four months of diversion to ensure the safety of lives and properties during the rainy season.

    While unblocking the road, Wenegieme, said the measure had saved the lives and properties of the FCT residents.

    She added that the agency decided to unblock the road after the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet) predicted that the 2022 rainy season within the FCT was over.

    ”You will recall that some years back, we always had serious flooding at this location and we lost several lives here.

    “That is why since 2020, we decided to be blocking this road every year during the rainy season, especially when the rains become very heavy.”

  • UPDATE: 22 rescued, 2 dead in Abuja building collapse

    UPDATE: 22 rescued, 2 dead in Abuja building collapse

    The FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) says no fewer than 22 persons have so far been rescued in the ongoing efforts to evacuate those trapped in a building which collapsed in Gwarinpa, Abuja.

    The agency’s Head of Public Affairs, Mrs Nkechi Isa, made the disclosure in a statement, Thursday in Abuja.

    Mrs Isa also revealed that two persons trapped in the building collapse had died.

    She said a combined team of FEMA, NEMA, FRSC, Nigeria Police, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, the department of Development Control, Abuja Metropolitan Management Agency, and Red Cross were at the scene to rescue the remaining people trapped in the rubble of the collapsed building.

    She said that some construction companies with heavy duty equipment were also part of the rescue efforts.

    “No fewer than 22 persons have so far been rescued, two are confirmed dead. The victims have been taken to Wuse, Gwarimpa, Asokoro district hospitals and the Federal medical center. The search for survivors is ongoing.

    “The two-storey building with a basement collapsed this morning trapping an unidentified number of workers,” she said.

  • Abuja Conoil fire incident: FEMA reads riot act to filling stations

    Abuja Conoil fire incident: FEMA reads riot act to filling stations

    The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), on Sunday in Abuja vowed to permanently shut down any filling station which flouts the extant regulations on products discharge.

    The Director-General of FEMA, Alhaji Abbas Idriss, issued the warning while reacting to the fire outbreak at the Conoil filling station at Garki Area 10, in the Federal Capital City, which occurred on Saturday.

    The filling station was the third station to be gutted by fire within the last two weeks.

    Idriss disclosed that a task force would be constituted by the FCT Administration and would soon commence strict enforcement of the regulations on content discharge, safety of lives and properties of the residents.

    He blamed the fires at the three filling stations on non adherence to the regulations on content discharge, cautioning  that flouting the rules endangers the lives and properties of the residents of the FCT.

    Idriss said: ” The incessant fire out breaks at filling stations in the FCT are becoming increasingly worrisome.

    ”The major cause of the fire is non adherence to the given time of content discharge, which is preferably early morning or late evening periods.

    ” Some filling stations also lack adequate fire defence equipment that will serve as first aid before the responders turn up.

    ”Some do not have trained safety officers who are supposed to guide the operators at the filling stations.”

    The D-G said that the infernos penultimate week were as a result of wrong timing of content discharge which could be termed as deliberate negligence which the FCT Administration would no longer tolerate.

    He listed the ill-fated filling stations to include; A. A. RANO by Mpape junction along Kubwa expressway on Dec. 1, Danmarna filling station at FHA Lugbe on Dec. 7, and Conoil Filling station at Area 10, Garki on Saturday.

    The FEMA boss also attributed the fire outbreaks to the lingering fuel scarcity, which compelled station managers to commence the discharge of content immediately the tanker arrived the stations.

    Idriss also said that the FCT Administration would open up discussions with the relevant NNPC Departments, security agencies and other stakeholders to see how it could can strengthen the regulations.

    This, according to him, will ensure full compliance of the laws and regulations with the view to saving lives and properties.

    He commended the prompt response of the fire fighters especially the team from the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Army and other stakeholders in fighting the Conoil Fire.

    Idriss also appreciated the security agencies for doing a great job by providing the needed security in order to prevent hoodlums from taking over the scene.

    He said: ” No lives were lost to the fire which started around 4,00p.m. on Saturday. Some vehicles parked within the premises of the station were however burnt along with the tanker discharging the fuel, as well as the station.

    ” No estimate of loss is done yet. FEMA is therefore calling on all petroleum industry stakeholders to always operate within the standard safety regulations in the discharge of all petroleum contents either in the morning or evening.

    ”And also to make adequate provision for functional fire defence equipment with adequate trained manpower to handle any unlikely situation.

    ”In case of any emergency, FEMA response team could be reached 24/7 by calling the National Toll Free Emergency Number 112 for prompt response.”