How Fire Service saved Nigerians N15trn from disasters Q2 2021 ─Minister

*Activities of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) saved Nigerians over N15trillion worth of property in fighting fire disasters within the second quarter of 2021, says Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Minister for Interior

Isola Moses | ConsumerConnect

In ensuring safety of consumers from the devastating effects of fire outbreaks in the country, the Federal Government has reiterated that fire prevention is a collective responsibility of all Nigerians.

Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Honourable Minister for Interior, who stated this while handing over a fully-equipped firefighting truck in Jalingo, Taraba State capital, said that 166 lives were saved in the second quarter of the year, The Sun report said.

The Minister noted the West African country also lost 27 lives to fire disasters during the period under review.

Aregbesola disclosed that activities of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) saved Nigerians over N15trillion worth of property in fighting fire disaster within the second quarter of 2021.

He also confirmed that 638 fire calls were received by the service, adding that Nigerians lost property worth N3trillion to fire disasters during the same period.

Fire prevention, the Minister stated, is a collective responsibility and the Federal Government was donating the firefighting equipment to Taraba State from part of the N10.4billion approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) for the Service.

He further said: “It may please you to know that this equipment, and indeed, all the equipment of the Service would be manned by well-trained and dedicated personnel.

“Climate change and global warming are here, and these are responsible for the rise in incidents of fire disasters.

“And so we have to braze and prepare to prevent them because prayers may not be enough.”

Aregbesola stated: “I also advised states to establish robust fire service within their domain to complement Federal Fire Service, and to make provisions for rural areas to enhance fire safety across the country.

“It is sad that most houses in urban centres lack fire prevention mechanisms. Why would one spend huge sums of money to build a house and would not invest a little in protecting the house against fire disaster?

“This is an accident and it can occur at any time for any number of reasons. As they say, prevention is always better than cure.”

Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba State, in his remarks on the occasion, noted that Nigeria recorded tremendous improvement in containing fire outbreaks in recent times.

The governor noted this was the first time that fire service will be put on the front burner.

He explained that his administration inherited 15 ‘rickety vehicles’ in fire service, but the state has deployed resources to revamp the moribund state fire service.

Ishaku said: “We trained our state fire command, and we will continue to support firefighting to prevent damage to residential homes, markets and other public places. We will sustain the training and provide utility vehicles to the Command.”

Dr. Liman Ibrahim, Controller-General of the Service, also commended the governor for supporting the agency in carrying out its statutory duties in the state.

The Controller-General requested Governor Ishaku to 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 property in terms of fire disaster management.

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