Federal Fire Service (FFS) Saved Nigerians N15 Trillion- Interior Minister; Aregbesola

The Honourable Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbeshola on Tuesday said that the Federal Fire Service (FFS) has saved Nigerians N15 trillion worth of property in fighting fire disasters within the second quarter of the year.

Aregbeshola made the disclosure at the Commissioning of Fire Fightings Truck in Jalingo.
He said that 166 lives were saved under the period under review, adding that 27 lives had been lost to fire disasters.

The minister also confirmed that 638 fire calls were received by the service, adding that Nigerians lost property worth N3 trillion to fire disasters with the period.

He said that fire prevention was a collective responsibility, adding that the Federal government had donated a state of the art fire-Fighting equipment to the state.

According to him, this is part of the 10.4 billion approved by the federal executive council.
Aregbeshola said that President Muhammadu Buhari has reposition FFS to function in line with its mandate of humanitarian services.

He also said that the equipment would be manned by well-trained and dedicated personnel.

He attributed increasing fire insedeces to climate change.

He advised Nigerians not to overlook the outlook of our Fire officers.

He also advised states to establish robust fire service within their domain to complement FFS, stressing the need to make provisions to rural areas to enhance fire safety across the country.

He also noted that most houses in urban centres lacked fire prevention mechanisms.

He, therefore, urged leaders to mobilize the people to prevent fire and report fire alerts to authorities.

The minister offered free training for fire officers from States and local fire services.
Dr Liman Ibrahim avage response vehicles Inclusion of FIre service into security council, training of fire staff, provision for two vehicles among others.

In his remarks, Gov. Darius Ishaku of Taraba said that Nigeria had recorded a tremendous improvement in containing fire outbreaks.

According to him, this is the first time that fire service will be put on the front burner.
Ishaku noted that the devastating causes of fire cannot be underemphasized.

He said that his administration had inherited 15 rickety vehicles in fire service, adding that the state had deployed resources to revamp the moribund state fire service.

“We trained our state fire command and we will continue to support fire fighting to prevent damages of residential homes, markets and other public places.

“We will also sustain the training and provide utility vehicles to the command.

He commends the Federal government for the gift of the fire fighting vehicle.

Earlier, Dr Liman Ibrahim, Controller General of the service commended the governor for support to the agency in carrying out it statutory duties in the state.

Ibrahim requested the governor to among other things provide two utility vehicles as well as the inclusion of the service into the state security council.

He assured the state of a robust collaboration with the state in saving lives and properties in terms of fire disasters.