The Federal Fire Service (FFS) said it has gotten approval from the federal government for the establishment of five training schools across the country.
Controller-General of the service, Dr Liman Alhaji Ibrahim, disclosed this, Thursday in Abuja at a press conference to update the media on the achievements his leadership has recorded since his assumption of office in the last six months.
Dr. Liman said as promised when he took over, the service is now better repositioned for effective delivery.
On the training schools approved for the agency, Liman said: “We have received approval for the establishment of additional 5 fire service training schools which will soon take off. They are located in Maiduguri, Calabar, llorin, Katsina and Umuahia.
“These training schools will provide training for not just theFederal Fire Service personnel but the State Fire Services and other Fire Services within and outside the country. When I came on board the Service had just recruited new staff we had a responsibility of training them. And the number that was recruited could not be trained in our two training schools in Lagos and Abuja.
“So we had to look for training facilities to complement the existing ones and we were able to reach out to the Nigerian Police and Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and we had 3 training in schools given to us, one from the Nigerian Police and two from the NSCDC. As we speak the first batch of the trainees, the junior cadre have concluded the first phase of the training in the training school and have commenced the second phase which will expose them to operational activitities. Also, the Officers cadre have commenced training in the respective training centres.”
The FFS boss also revealed that since he came in strengthening of the “state fire service has been my majorconcern, when I assumed office, one of my major goals was to see how the State Fire Service can be strengthened foreffectiveness and efficiency and to achieve that I have beenreaching out to state governors, supporting and encouragingthem to do the needful about their fire services.
“I also believe that a strengthened state fire service complimented by our presence in the zones will go a long way in addressing the gaps in fire service delivery across the country.”
On the Area of training, Dr. Liman Ibrahim said his leadership has trained over 300 staff within the country in FALCK Atlantic Training Centre, Ipara Ogun State, National Fire Academy Sheda where a consultant was engaged in training personnel on building collapse, as well as otherprofessional training in ICT, Public relations and so on.
“Over 40 officers have been sent for professional trainingabroad in South Africa, United Kingdom, United States ofAmerica and Dubai. Fifteen of our Officers will be embarking on a trip to the United Kingdom to attend an International Disaster Management Course.
While commending President Muhammadu Buhari’s intervention since 2015, the FFS boss said before the emergence of the President his agency had only two functional fire fighting trucks.
He revealed that the Buhari-led administration has approved over 90 trucks in which only 32 are yet to be delivered.
He appealed to the government to provide more fund for the agency so as to speed up the manufacturing and take delivery of the remaining trucks.
