Fire disasters: FFS commissions fire fighting trucks, others

The Federal Fire Service (FFS) has commissioned additional 13 fire fighting trucks, as part of efforts to strengthen its capacity to combating the incessant menace of fire outbreaks in the country.
The agency has also upgraded the National Fire Academy to a degree awarding institution by affiliating it with the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).
Recall that the service had in December 2017, commissioned the first batch of the equipment which comprised ten (10) fire fighting trucks, fifteen (15) water tankers and fifteen (15) utility vehicles in Abuja, thereby taking the number to fifty three (53) .
The National Fire Academy will now award PGD.
The minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau (rtd), who received and commissioned the newly procured and sophisticated equipments recently in Lagos said, retooling the Fire Service was, in part, a fulfilment of the President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise to revive the once neglected but very strategic and important agency.
Dambazau, who challenged the fire fighter to match government investment with result, said: “As we speak, construction works are ongoing in all commands of the Service as well as in the Headquarters, in Abuja.
The FFS Controller General, Engr Joseph Garba Anebi explained that prior to the purchase of the thirteen additional equipments, his agency procured and commissioned ten (10) fire fighting trucks, fifteen (15) water tankers and over fifteen (15) utility vehicles in 2017.
Describing the feat as part of its efforts at complementing and boosting the efforts of State Fire Services at combating the menace of fire outbreaks, Anebi disclosed that more fire stations have been built within Abuja , zonal and in states commands.
The Fire Service boss who reeled out their achievements under his saddle hinted that, “ In the area of training and capacity building, it will interest you to know that the Service has upgraded the National Fire Academy to a degree awarding institution by affiliating it with the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA).“
He stated that henceforth, “The National Fire Academy will now award PGD, Professional Masters Degree in Disaster Risk Management. And thus, avail our officers and those from the West African Coast the opportunity to be trained in Disaster Management as well as other Nigerians with interest in Disaster Risk Management.”
According to him, “A training school has been established in Minna, Niger State for the training of Junior Fire Officers, courtesy of the minister of Interior.
“A training school has been established in Minna, Niger State for the training of Junior Fire Officers.
“It is penitent to acknowledge the fact that this achievement wouldn’t have been possible without the support from the Honorable Minister of Interior.
“The Service procured and commissioned 10 fire fighting trucks, 15 water tankers , over 15 utility vehicles and this additional 13 fire fighting trucks we are commissioning today.
“This symbolizes more efforts which are aimed at complementing the efforts of the State Fire Services at combating the menace of fire outbreaks ,more Fire Stations were opened within Abuja as well as Zonal and State Commands outside the FCT.
“We have been able to create a good relationship with the various State Fire Services so as to ensure partnership for efficient service delivery to Nigerians in the area of Fire fighting and disaster management.”