By Daniel Tyokua
The FCT Fire Service Department in the Federal Capital Territory Administration has called for stiffer penalties against fuel filling stations that flout hazard prevention guidelines during discharge of product.
Briefing journalists in Abuja on Monday, Acting Director and Controller FCT Fire service, Sani Saidu said the call followed increasing cases of fire outbreak in filling stations in the territory.
He suggested that FCT Administration should force any filling station that disregard the safety measures to pay the fine of five to ten million naira.
Saidu also sought amendment to its fire
and fighting laws, to provide for stiff and punishment for Petrol Stations owners who violate safety rules.
The Service lamented that despite its routine sensitization, fire inferno at Petrol stations around the nation’s capital has continued to increase.
He decried the weakness of the existing laws, saying it was not enough to curtail the level of negligence by operators, which obviously has always been responsible for the disturbing fire incidents.
Saidu noted that while firemen has intensified its monitoring and supervision at the petrol stations, it has become necessary to ask for amendment to the existing legislation.
According to him, the standard best practice of allowing a petroleum products loaded truck that just arrived its destination to cool down before discharging, has always been flouted.
He disclosed that discharging of the contents of the truck is usually best done in a conducive weather temperature, but owners and operators always disregard it.
Saidu further stated that while it will be absolutely difficult to post firemen to all Petrol Stations for close Monitoring, it would be important to have a law for punishing those who discard the rules
