By Tina Omoregie, Abuja
Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola has said the federal government rescued 1,275 lives, properties worth N3.7trillion naira from fire outbreaks across the Country in one year, charged states on improved fire service.
The Minister said this in his speech at the commissioning ceremony of 20 new Basic Life Support ambulance buses, 7 state of the art firefighting trucks and the pulling out ceremony of very senior officers of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) on Tuesday in Abuja.
He explained that, “These equipments are part of the N10.4 billion infrastructure upgrade approved by the Federal Executive Council on March 3, comprising 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 distress calls and 20 basic life support ambulances.
“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.”
Ogbeni appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for his unrelenting support to the sector.
“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 its core mandate, which include humanitarian and emergency services.”
Highlighting the incidents of fire outbreaks across the Country, he revealed that, “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, rescued about 387 persons in distress due to fire and other related emergencies while saving property worth over N3.7trillion.”
He commended the legendary service of the retiring officers of the service.
“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.”