The Federal Government has urged public servants to ensure stricter compliance with safety measures following a fire outbreak at the Office of the National Board for Technology Incubation (NBTI).
The Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, gave the admonition on Monday in Abuja after an early morning fire incident at the agency’s office.
The NBTI, an agency under the Federal Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, is located within the Federal Secretariat Complex, Phase II.
Addressing journalists at the scene, Walson-Jack said the incident should serve as a wake-up call for public workers to ensure that all electrical appliances are switched off at the close of work in order to prevent fire outbreaks in government offices.
She noted that although the cause of the fire had yet to be determined, public servants must adhere strictly to established safety protocols.
Walson-Jack described the incident as unfortunate, noting that fire outbreaks often result in significant damage to property and infrastructure.
She commended firefighters for their prompt response, stating that they moved swiftly to the scene to contain the fire.
“Thankfully, for now, there are no casualties and everyone associated with the building has been evacuated.
“We look forward to a comprehensive investigation and assessment of what has happened,” she said.
Walson-Jack also disclosed that her office was currently developing a protocol to regulate the use of facilities within federal secretariats.
Also speaking, the Head of the Abuja Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr. Zakari Abubakar, said the agency mobilised resources and coordinated relevant stakeholders to respond to the incident.
According to him, NEMA’s mandate includes coordinating stakeholders involved in disaster management to ensure a prompt and effective response to emergencies.
Abubakar noted that the fire was successfully contained through the joint efforts of emergency responders and other critical stakeholders.
