Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has told officers and men of the Federal Fire Service to brace up to challenges of the modern era, saying firefighting is not optional but mandatory.
He spoke Thursday night when he inspected facilities at the headquarters of the service.
The minister who expressed satisfaction with the facilities applauded firefighters for sacrifices made in the line of duty, noting that many had lost lives and limbs.
He said, “You are indispensable. Your service is not optional. It is mandatory and it is in the service of the nation. We are proud of your services and indebted to you for what you do. We particularly appreciate your sacrifices and they will never go unnoticed. We are grateful for what you are doing and we can only continue to leave in the debt of gratitude. We thank you for the lives and property that you have saved and for your contributions to national development and the economy.”
He announced plans by the federal government to decentralise emergency responses, especially in the area of mitigating fire disasters, and promised to open up more response points equipped with firetrucks to cut down emergency response time, and to station fire-fighting trucks in markets, churches and other relevant areas.
Describing the FFS as a key agency in safeguarding lives and property of Nigerians, the minister said the fire agency must be able to respond to emergencies within the shortest possible time because fire accidents and related emergencies can wreak massive havoc within a very short time.
“May be you don’t hear this too often but, on behalf of Mr. President, I am saying thank you for the lives, economy and properties you have so far saved, we appreciate how significant and how integral your work is. I want to assure you that because we appreciate your sacrifices in saving lives, we will partner with you and ensure you occupy your place of pride.”
Dr Tunji-Ojo who noted that President Bola Tinubu is alive to his responsibilities, assured contractors handling various projects for the service of prompt payment.
On capacity building, he said, “Our training schools will no longer be dumping grounds. We will train and retrain our officers in modern techniques and equip them accordingly.”
Controller-general of the service, Engr Jaji Abdulganiyu, expressed confidence that all the agencies under the ministry would have a phenomenal dive at excellence in the coming months and years.
He described the minister’s nuggets of enlightenment, ingenuity, creativity, sense of accountability and attention to details as a testimony of his intellectual prowess and proactive leadership.
He reeled out the service challenges to include; inadequate man power, endless attacks on fire fighters , housing needs for personnel, Firefighting infrastructural gap, Budgetary constraint, and the need for the befitting corporate headquarters amongst others.
“We are confident that you will use the might and influence of your good office to help resolve some , if not all of our issues. Abdulganiyu said.”
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