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By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has revealed that the country recorded a total of 2,845 fires in 2021, resulting in a loss of 3 trillion naira.
This was revealed by Interior Minister Mr Rauf Aregbesola as he decorated the newly promoted Deputy Comptrollers General (DCG) of the Federal Fire Service (FFS).
He said the FFS had saved properties worth N18.9 trillion, 587 lives and saved 260 people from a raging fire, while the service responded to 2,845 SOS distress calls.
“In sum, the FSS stock has grown by leaps and bounds as the agency has made significant contributions to national security in the protection of life and property,” he said.
Mr Aregbesola noted that the reason for achieving such a feat was that between 2015 and today, the federal government under President Muhammadu Buhari has committed more resources to the agency than since its establishment in 1901. .
“The attention and resources devoted by the Buhari administration since 2015 are more than anything devoted to it since its inception in 1901.
“Between 2015 and 2020, the federal government provided 106 modern fire trucks to the service.
“In 2021, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) also approved the purchase of some equipment and has since been procured and deployed.
“N10.4 billion infrastructure upgrade including 44 fire engines, 15 water tankers, 15 rapid response (non-conventional) fire engines that can go around corners and nooks to respond to distress calls and 20 basic survival ambulances,” he mentioned.
He also said 17 firefighters have been sent to Belarus for an advanced trainer training course.
These officers, he said, are the master trainers who will train other officers in modern firefighting, disaster and emergency management.
The minister commended the service’s former Comptroller General, Mr. Liman Ibrahim, for his visionary leadership and invaluable contribution to the service, saying he will miss working with him.
“I must not fail to congratulate and thank the former CG, for his innovation, his industry and his insight. He is the human instrument of revolutionary change at the FSS.
“His ability to grasp issues and policies and make them actionable is legendary. I will miss working with him. I thank him for his invaluable service to the nation through the FSS.
“I pray that he will be happy and fulfilled in retirement and that he will have resounding success in his endeavours,” Mr Aregbesola added.
He also condemned the growing incidents of criminals, thugs and touts engaging in attacking firefighters and their equipment while attending to fire emergencies.
He noted, however, that the service had now developed the ability to contain and deter them effectively.
