By Vivian Emoni
Abuja – A group, Society for the Promotion of Peoples Rights, on Wednesday advised residents of the the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) against bush burning to avoid fire outbreak as dry season approaches.
Mr Williams Osaze, the President of the group, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that residents of the territory should guard against improper handling of fire.
Osaze warned against careless tossing of smouldering cigarette butts into the bush to avert fire disaster.
He said some fire disasters were caused by fuel kept in residential buildings, stressing, “bush burning should stop. We must prevent unwarranted fire outbreak.
“We are just entering into another weather, which is the dry season. We must ensure that people don’t handle fire carelessly this time around.
“The idea of storing fuel in residential buildings should be avoided and those involved in such practice should stop because it is dangerous.
“People who throw away cigarette stumps carelessly should also be discouraged.
“We need to be watchful and ensure that some careless people do not endanger our lives unnecessarily,’’ he warned.
Osaze said that some farmers, who smoke on their way to farm, do carelessly throw away cigarette butts, adding that such attitude should be avoided.
He also advised hunters and herdsmen to desist from indiscriminate bush burning for bush meat, noting that such action could cause harm to farm lands.
The president called on security agents to arrest anyone caught burning bush indiscriminately to serve as deterrent to others.
Osaze advised the residents to cut grasses in their surroundings to avoid fire outbreak.
He said the group had commenced sensitising the residents on dangers involved in bush burning and how it can be avoided.