Disasters: How FFS saved N56bn property in 4 months – Jaji

The Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji, has revealed how his agency fought 519 fire outbreaks and saved properties worth N56.92 billion within four months of his assumption of office.

Jaji said between April 28, 2022 that he took over the saddle of the Federal Fire Service till date, his tenure had lost a total of 23 personnel to fire outbreaks, rescued 38 persons in distress due to fire-related emergencies.

Speaking with newsmen Thursday at the agency’s national headquarters in Abuja, to mark his 100 days in office, the Controller General who said a total of 177 lives were saved from various scenes of infernos, however, lamented that the country also lost a whooping N11.62billion to fire from different parts of the country within the period under review.

Jaji said fire outbreaks in Nigeria and its attendant losses of lives and properties as well as the lack of compliance to fire safety have continued to generate concerns of stakeholders, hence, their resolve to make compulsory, fire liability insurance for all public buildings.

Engr. Jaji who expressed the need for public buildings to subscribe to the liability insurance policy for public also  warned the general public to desist from attacking firefighters responding to fire calls and appliances or face the full wrath of the law, adding that the Service can no longer afford to risk the lives of its men and expose its very expensive trucks to destruction.

The FFS boss wondered why efforts by dedicated firefighters to always get to scenes of fire disasters are frustrated by mobs, who attack them and their trucks with dangerous weapons.

He, however called on community and traditional leaders to take the responsibility of educating and cautioning their followers on the dastardly act.

He also reeled out other achievements attained within his 100 Days in office to include; FFS collaboration with NAFFCO in UAE and the Turkish Army in the area of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear firefighting, which necessitated his visit to Konya state.

Others are the actualisation of its partnership with the Nigerian Air force on the establishment of Aerial Fire Response unit, pursuing vigorously, the enactment of the Fire Service Act and other extant laws.

He said: “To this effect, On June 16, 2022, the Federal Executive Council(FEC) approved the repeal of the 60-year-old Fire Service Act and the enactment of the Federal Fire and Rescue Service Establishment Act. Another major stride recorded by my administration is the ongoing construction of 13 Metropolitan Fire stations nationwide,” Jaji said