By Bisola Adeyemo
Plateau State Government has given a directive that all building approvals must comply with fire safety protocols as provided in the Building Code, stressed that applicant who fails to provide fire safety measures must not get approval to build.
Governor Simon Lalong stated this during the inauguration of a fire fighting truck deployed to the state by the Federal Fire Service on Wednesday, at the Government House, Jos.
“I have therefore directed our development control agency, the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB), to intensify the prosecution of offenders who fail to comply with building plan approvals and town planning provisions.
“We must stop those who insist on endangering the generality of citizens simply because of their selfish desires.”
He said that non-adherence to safety protocols and urban planning regulations was sabotaging efforts by the fire service to improve in the discharge of its duties, especially justifying its deployment of more fire trucks.
Lalong therefore urged the people of the state to provide fire fighting facilities such as fire extinguishers in their houses and offices to reduce the losses before the arrival of firefighters, Environews reported
While appreciating President Buhari for providing fire trucks across the 36 states, he appealed to the Federal Government to deploy more Rapid Response vehicles including an ambulance to Plateau, assuring that the state government would collaborate with the service to build the capacity of the State Fire Service in responding to fire disasters.
In his remarks, the Controller General of Fire Service, Dr Liman Ibrahim, said 106 fire fighting trucks were being distributed nationwide, with an additional 96 purchased to mitigate fire incidences and ensure the safety of lives and property.