The Global Awareness for Public Safety (GAPS) Foundation has called for the establishment of safety departments in Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) to safeguard against unforseen disasters.
Dr Chuks Alozie, the Director-General of the group, made the call in a statement he signed and made available to newsmen on Thursday in Abuja.
He also called on the National Assembly to strengthen and expand the scope of its oversight functions to cover issues of safety in MDAs.
“The measures have become necessary following the recent fire outbrake that destroyed the offices of three Justices at the Supreme court complex in Abuja,” he said.
“Government needs to create safety departments across various MDAs, especially where such units or departments doesn’t exist for safety of the staff and public property, ” he added.
“These departments should comprise of personnel from related professional bodies with cognate knowledge on safety measures application.”
He called on the National Assembly to as a matter of urgency, enact laws strengthening the operations of safety measures that would help to save lives, secure properties in the MDAs.
“This will help in ascertaining the safety and level of preparedness against dangers as well as prevent instances of disasters that could claim lives and properties,” he said.
Alozie attributed the rampant instances of fire outbrakes to lack of safety measures, awareness and guidelines in most public institutions, adding it could have adverse effects in cases of emergencies.
He reiterated the group’s commitments to partner with the government to embark on safety awareness campaigns on the imperative of adoption and restoring safety measures in public institutions across the country.
(NAN)