The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Jaji Abdulganiyu, has said arrangements have been made to provide security for firefighters whenever they go out on operations.
He said this after inspecting some fire stations in the Federal Capital Territory as part of activities to mark his 100 days in office as the Controller General of the service.
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Firemen have been facing attacks by hoodlums whenever they go on firefighting operations.
Recently, the FFS station in Dede, Abuja was attacked with equipment destroyed by hoodlums.
While speaking to journalists at Dede, Jaji said the government’s arrangement is to have fire stations close to police stations for policemen to provide security backup for firemen.
He also said the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, had instructed the personnel of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) to provide security for firefighters whenever they go on operations.
“From the inception of the establishment of fire service, fire service was carved out of the police, fire service is part of police right from the beginning of the creation of fire service.
“The government deemed it necessary that where there is a police station, there is a fire station and where there is a fire station, there is a police station.
“Since fire service does not carry arms and they are going to fight a fire, they know that there are some fire outbreaks that are not natural and people are going there to loot, that is why people that carry arms can also assist in making sure that they disperse the hoodlums.
“Now that when development is going on and we realise that some of the stations now, we have fire service without a police station in the area, that is why because fire service is in Interior (ministry) and civil defence is also part of us, that is why the minister of Interior now ordered that since people are continuously attacking our men, attacking our equipment, it is mandatory now for the civil defence to go with us whenever we are going to fight a fire to give us cover.
“If we collaborate with civil defence and we collaborate with police, nothing bad about it.”
Jaji assured that he would do everything within his power to ensure the safety of personnel while performing their duties.
He had earlier visited the fire station in Nyanya and inspected the construction of a new fire station in Kubwa.
