The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) is set to inaugurate a Fire Emergency Monitoring Gateway to mitigate fire outbreaks ahead of the harmattan season.
The FCT has witnessed an alarming number of fire incidents, particularly in open markets during the dry season, which have devastated properties and livelihoods.
In November 2023, two fire outbreaks were recorded on consecutive days. The first occurred on 6 November at the High Commission of Canada to Nigeria, where two people lost their lives and three others were injured.
On 7 November, a fire engulfed the Samsung Office in Wuse 2. While no lives were lost in this incident, goods worth millions of naira were destroyed.
In a statement on Sunday, Chief Operating Officer of PrimeAlert Secure Ltd, the company handling the project, George Tiga, said the Fire Emergency Monitoring Gateway would connect buildings in the FCT to a centralised emergency dashboard, enabling real-time smoke detection and rapid response in the event of a fire.
The statement partly read, “In a significant move to enhance safety and mitigate fire hazards in the Federal Capital Territory, the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, through the leadership of the FCT Minister, is set to launch the Fire Emergency Monitoring Gateway.
“The Fire Emergency Monitoring Gateway is a cutting-edge technology that will instantly alert the fire service and relevant emergency responders at the first sign of smoke or fire.
“All structures, whether residential, commercial, or industrial, will be connected to the gateway. Once a fire threat is detected, emergency response teams will be notified immediately, ensuring swift containment of fire outbreaks and preventing large-scale damage”.
Tiga added that the deployment of this innovative system would position Abuja as a model city for fire safety in Africa, aligning with global standards in cities like New York, London, and Singapore.
