Festus Fifen.

As a way of ensuring prompt responses to emergencies and other environmental challenges in the Nigeria Capital, The Federal Capital Territory Administration ( FCTA) said it has perfected plans to introduce Emergency Marshals to work in different communities around the six Area Councils of the Abuja to curb hazards and other emergencies.

Director General,  FCT Emergency Management Agency ( FEMA) Alhaji Abbas Iddris on Wednesday stated that the move is meant to help in managing the adverse effects of the rapid growing population in the nation’s capital.

Alhaji Idris noted that the agency has carried out hazards mappings in Abuja, identifying areas where urgent attention was required.

Iddris noted that the  decision to introduce Emergency Marshals was based on the need to increase life saving  interventions and also mitigate hazards.

According to him,  the Marshals would complement the efforts of other volunteers who have played key roles in the agency’s activities.

” We intend to introduce emergency Marshals this year. These are volunteers who assist students, hospital workers and PWD, and other public servants during emergencies.

” They also assist in facility services, Risk Management and Safety Services by reporting conditions in a building that could present a hazard during an emergency including maintain an orderly evacuation; conduct a sweep of an area to ensure that evacuation is complete. The Marshals are also to participate in debriefings resulting from evacuation and complete a monthly checklist for fire safety issues in their areas”, he added.