How firefighters saved N1.3 tr property in 2020

Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, says the Federal Fire Service saved 1,110 lives and property worth N1.3 trillion from fire outbreaks in 2020 alone.

Aregbesola revealed at the commissioning of a DG-54 Aerial Platform fire fighting truck in Lagos that President Muhammadu Buhari has invested in the Federal Fire Service, the biggest and the most comprehensive of such from any government since the colonial era.

According to him, the attention the President has been giving to the Fire Service has resulted in laudable works the department has been doing in the past few years of the Buhari administration.

He added that there used to be FFS presence only in Lagos when it was the Federal Capital (and later in Abuja), with obsolete equipment and epileptic services. But under the Buhari administration, FFS has spread to nearly all the states of the federation.

“As you are aware, the Federal Executive Council at its meeting two weeks ago approved the procurement of 94 fire service vehicles. These include 44 fire trucks, 15 water tankers, 15 Rapid Intervention Vehicles and 20 Basic Life Support Ambulances. This is in addition to 106 modern fire-fighting trucks and vehicles procured by the Federal Fire Service between 2016 and 2020.

“Also, the Service, through my initiative, is engaging the Federal Republic of Belarus for collaboration that is expected to usher a better deal, especially in the procurement of Aerial Fire-fighting Vehicles, Rapid Intervention Vehicles, Command and Control Vehicles and training of fire-fighters.

“A few days ago, I approved foreign training on high-rise fire-fighting for 17 officers of the Service. This is to ensure optimal use of the vehicle slated for commissioning today. The Ministry of Interior will continue to ensure that the fire-fighting resources are adequately upgraded at every given opportunity.

“The Ministry of Interior is also ready to collaborate with the Nigeria Air Force in using aircraft to drop water and firefighting chemical solutions on high rise buildings and other places requiring aerial fire management,” Aregbesola said at the ceremony held inside the main bowl of Teslim Balogun Stadium in Surulere, Lagos.

“The equipment being commissioned today, DG54 Aerial Platform Fire Fighting Truck has 54 metres height capacity and will reach the 18th floor of high-rise buildings. This has been a challenge in Lagos especially with a plethora of skyscrapers, and a nightmare to fire-fighters. This will be a thing of the past now.

“We will keep improving on our infrastructure and bringing innovations, in the bid to protect lives and property and put a fire under control.

“I urge the Controller General of Federal Fire Service and his management team to put in place measures and strategies that will ensure the effective deployment and utilization of this huge fire-fighting asset for optimal impact on the general public.

“In the same vein, I call on State Governments to work in partnership with the Federal Fire Service to minimize the menace of uncontrolled fires and related emergencies within their respective jurisdiction.

“States government has to raise its game on fire fighting. With the best of efforts, the federal government can only supplement states efforts, not replace them. Even local governments should have fire management capability.” he said.