The Federal Capital Territory Emergency Management Department (FEMD) says it has saved 3,500 lives from different emergencies as of Dec. 23, 2024, while eight others lost their lives.
The acting Director-General (D-G) of the department, Mr. Abdulrahman Mohammed, disclosed this at the 2024 end-of-year media briefing, in Abuja on Monday, December 23.
Mohammed said that the people were saved through 165 emergency calls on the department’s 112 emergency toll-free line.
He identified the major emergencies in the year as building collapse, fire outbreaks, flood, earth tremors, and suicide attempt.
He said that, out of the figure, 75 lives were rescued from various flood disasters while one life was lost to flood at Ungwan Hakimi, Orozo, in Abuja Municipal Area Council.
He added that a total of 105 persons were rescued from building collapse while four fatalities were recorded.
The acting D-G also said that 1,230 persons were rescued from various fire outbreaks with no life lost within the year under review.
He also said that 89 persons were rescued by the department from road crashes while persons lost their lives.
“FEMD equally responded to reported earth tremor in Mpape, Katampe, and some parts of Maitama Extension, where over 2000 residents were traumatised.
“The department with support form the Nigeria Police also prevented a suicide attempt by a youth on a mast at the top of Katampe Hill,” he said.
On provisions of relief materials, Mohammed further said that the department, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency, had equally distributed food items to more than 200 persons living with disabilities in FCT within the year.
He added that FEMD, in collaboration with NEAR Foundation, equally distributed Ramadan food packages to 150 Internally Displaced Persons in Kabusa and persons affected by disaster in Dutse, Bwari Area council.
“We also distributed hospital equipment to Kuje District Hospital and donated school beds to the Government Secondary School in Kuje,” he added.
The FEMD boss, however, said that in spite of the successes recorded in the outgoing year, several challenges such as obsolete equipment, limited office space, security and inadequate funding hampered the activities of the department.
By Philip Yatai
