Sokoto Govt. acquires N400m fire-fighting vehicles

The Sokoto State Government has purchased 12 fire fighting vehicles and equipment worth N339. 9 million, the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Alhaji Isa Achida, has said.

Achida said in Sokoto on Saturday at a media briefing that the vehicle were purchased to boost the operations of the State Fire Service in a bid to save lives and property.

The briefing was organised by the State Ministry of Information and the State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to mark the two years of the administration of Gov. Aminu Tambuwal.

“The provision of additional vehicles has brought the number of functional fire fighting engines to 17.

“Two water tankers have been bought at a cost of N17 million to serve as back up to the fire engines.

“The department has also refilled 1,050 fire extinguishers at Sokoto Central Market at the cost of about N5.9 million.

“New uniforms for the officers and men of the department have been provided at a cost of N5.9 million,” Achida said.

The commissioner said in 2016 through the intervention of the fire-fighters property worth N1.8 billion were saved from being destroyed fire.

“During the period (2016), properties saved are worth N1.8 billion, while 418 cases of fire were reported across the state.”

He added that the department had in 2017, recorded 324 fires at different locations with property worth N618 million lost.

Achida said the ministry would introduce ambulance services across the state, particularly on the highways to help accident victims.