…Fire killed 158 persons; Service rescued 1275, saved N3.7trn property, N4.7trn property destroyed
By Fred Momoh
The Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola on Tuesday commissioned 20 new basic life support ambulance buses, seven state of the art firefighting trucks even as he acknowledged that senior officers pulled out of the service.
Speaking at the ceremony, he said the equipment are part of the N10.4 billion infrastructure upgrade approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in March which comprises of 44 firefighting engines, 15 water tankers, 15 rapid intervention fire engines (not conventional ones) that can go into any nook and cranny to respond to distressed calls and 20 basic life support ambulances.
The Minister added that the ambulances in particular are an innovation to fire fighting and the first time in the history of this country.
He said: “It has become clear that para-medical services are an adjunct of disaster and emergency management. First responders should be able to provide emergency medical services to the needy and evacuate victims to the nearest medical facility in real time.
“It is heart rending to see the wounded and other victims of fire disasters and other emergencies with varying degrees of burns and injuries lying on the floor, waiting for evacuation to hospitals and many die helplessly in the process.
“This intervention should address this challenge and save lives
In March, I approved the training of 21 fire-fighting officers in the University of Civil Defence and Emergency Studies, Minsk, Belarus, among other agreements with the country. These officers will be the master trainers that will be training other officers locally on modern firefighting, disaster and emergency management.”
I must thank President Muhammadu Buhari for his continued support for the Ministry of Interior and her agencies. It pleases me to state that the delivery of these new Basic Life Support ambulance buses and fire trucks is indeed a further testimony of his resolve to reposition the FFS for better service delivery in line with it’s core mandate, which include humanitarian and emergency services.
I must say that since the inception of the present administration, FFS has experienced a phenomenal transformation from a moribund department to a vibrant organisation equipped with modern and state of the art firefighting equipment and today we are here to add 20 brand new Basic Life Support Ambulance buses and seven firefighting trucks to our fleet to be manned by well trained, dedicated and committed personnel.
It is noted that 2020 into 2021 has witnessed frightening fire incidents, ranging from markets to gas and pipelines fires around the country. Statistics at our disposal show that the FFS in 2020 to the first quarter of 2021 received 4,541 fire calls from which regrettably, 158 lives were lost and property lost is estimated at N41.5 billion.
The good news is that the Service within the year under review also saved about 1,275 lives, rescue about 387 persons in distress due to fire and other related emergencies while saving property worth over N3.7trillion.
The arrival of these new ambulance buses and trucks and their deployment to the various Zonal and state Commands would surely enhance service delivery of the Federal Fire Service during emergencies.
I will therefore urge the Zonal and State Commands where these vehicles would be deployed to reciprocate the Federal Government’s gesture, to optimize and effectively use these assets to improve fire cover, enhance emergency response operations, and complement State Fire Services operations while enhancing fire safety across the country.
I have directed the Service to re-engage the manufacturers of these vehicles on their maintenance and also to train young Mechanical and Electrical Engineers/ Technicians that will in future be saddled with the responsibility of maintaining the vehicles.
The Minister said. “It is best therefore to prevent fire. This begins with buildings design and equipment. A lot of buildings, including public ones and high-rise structures, are not fire preventive and do not have firefighting facilities.
“Many homes and vehicles would have been saved if the small mobile fire extinguishers have been handy when fire struck. There is also the superstitious belief that fire incidents usher prosperity. This is callous and dangerous. Some people lost their life investments in fire from which they never recover while human lives lost to fire can never be brought back.
Let me congratulate the gallant officers pulling out of the Service upon attaining the statutory age of service today. The Federal Government of Nigeria under the leadership of President Buhari congratulates and appreciates your selfless service to the Service and the nation at large. The country salutes your courage and on behalf of the President, I wish you well in your future endeavour.
Aregbesola, commended the CG for his purposeful and visionary leadership which has completely changed the trajectory of the Service, adding, I commend as well the Officers and Men of the Federal Fire Service for overcoming all the odds to ensure the safety of lives and property.