The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has asked the Federal Fire Service (FFS) to put on its thinking cap and move away from combating fire to forecasting such incidents.
He also said that the FFS has to migrate from the era of corrective activities to the era of being proactive which will lead us to preventive measures that can save us millions of Naira.
Tunji-Ojo disclosed that the Federal Fire Service (FFS), will soon play a major role in our national development when the bill on fire and rescue service is assented to by President Bola Tinubu.
The Minister stated this on Wednesday in Abuja while commissioning 6 firefighting trucks and 15 Ford Rapid Response Vehicles at The Federal Fire Service Headquarters, Garki, Abuja.
He said the Federal Fire and Rescue Service will be expected to collect information across Nigeria and also take care of the health and safety of personnel.
“Your strength lies in the decline of fire outbreaks and not the number of fires you fought within a period.
“Extinguishing fires, saving lives and property, rescuing people during accidents, and protecting people in the event of other emergencies remained part of your responsibilities.”
“I need to have the full range of foreseeable fires, the areas, and what we have to combat them. It is very important that this becomes your next line of action. As government agencies, we put more effort into solving problems rather than planning to prevent them.
“The FFS must work very closely with NSCDC for security cover. I understand the issues that our FFS men gave attacks when they go out on their legitimate duties but with the NSCDC providing such cover, such attacks will be reduced.”
On his part, the Controller General Federal Fire Service Engr Jaji O. Abdulganiyu said the commissioning of the firefighting assets and subsequent deployment will position the Service for better service delivery while sending a signal to the general public of the administration’s commitment to protecting lives and property.
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“The Firefighting trucks and Rapid Response Vehicles will provide firemen ample opportunities for time-saving, professional, and efficient firefighting and rescue operations across the country.
“The maneuverability and tractive force coupled with the modern-tech -firefighting tools built into the automotive frame of the Ford RRV brings enhanced productivity to the field of efficient firefighting, search and rescue and robust Global Positioning System(GPS)/mapping and navigation.
Speed and stability being assured, the RRV reduces response time significantly during fire calls as difficult terranes could be run much faster. Conventionally, the firefighting trucks are heavy-duty in nature, used for large-scale fires as the case may be.
“Rapid Response Vehicles on the other hand will be used in our economic and social hubs to meet the exigencies of time, given that it is easier to manoeuvre.
For example, our markets and public spaces today do not have access routes for firefighting trucks, hence the need for Rapid Response Vehicles cannot be overemphasized.”
He said, “For any country to attain its potential, fire service cannot be relegated. I say this to the FFS, you are a sleeping giant. The time to wake up is now.
“There is a direct correlation between sophistication, industrialization, and fire service because the more you grow as an economy, the more you need to expand the coast of your fire service. Fire service is directly related to development in any nation.”
He said the country cannot continue to be nonchalant to the issues of fire. “As an individual, I believe that the FFS should be the major employer of labor in Nigeria.
