NAICOM, Federal Fire Service eye committee to enforce laws on public buildings

Chuks Udo Okonta

The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) and the Federal Fire Service have concluded plans to set up a joint committee to implement and enforce the law on public buildings as stated in section 65 of the Insurance Act 2003.

The agreement was reached when the Commissioner for Insurance Fola Daniel, visited the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Joseph Anebi in his office in Abuja.

Membership of the committee would include staff of NAICOM, the Federal Fire Service and representatives of the insurance operators that will be saddled with the task of driving implementation of the initiative.

Daniel at the meeting, said the insurance of public buildings was made compulsory by the virtue of the provisions of section 65 of the Insurance law, adding that the number of public buildings in Nigeria is estimated to be 10 million, but it is sad that most of them are uninsured, thereby, putting the lives and properties of third parties who have rights of access to the buildings at great risks.

He said NAICOM desires a mutually beneficial partnership and collaboration with the Fire Service, in its on-going drive to implement and enforce compliance with relevant provisions of the extant laws relating to insurance of public buildings in the country.

Daniel noted that in recognition of the unique role of the fire service, especially in safeguarding the society from losses arising from fire and others peril, the insurance law provides that .25 per cent of the insurance premium generated from public buildings be set aside to assist in the funding of the fire service. 

He maintained that the fund is to be applied in the procurement of firefighting equipment for the agency.

Anebi said the service is ready to collaborate with NAICOM to ensure effective implementation and enforcement of the law. 

"We already have an enforcement team in place that ensures compliance with our codes which we can also deploy for this purpose. We have also inspectors who carry out risk assessments of buildings. The task of verifying compliance with the insurance law could also be added to the check-list of our inspectors," he added.