The Federal Fire Service (FFS) has commissioned Basic Life Support Ambulances and Fire Trucks in Abuja.
Speaking while commissioning the buses, Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, said they were part of the N10.4 billion infrastructure upgrade approved by the Federal Executive Council on March 3.
He said the equipment were part of the N10.4 billion infrastructure upgrade approved by the Federal Executive Council on March 3, comprising of 44 firefighting engines, 15 water tankers, 15 rapid intervention fire engines and 20 basic life support ambulances.
The minister said the buses will be deployment to the various zonal and state commands to enhance service delivery of the FFS during emergencies.
“I will, therefore, urge the zonal and state commands where these vehicles would be deployed to reciprocate the federal government’s gesture, to optimize and effectively use these assets to improve fire cover, enhance emergency response operations, and complement State Fire Services operations while enhancing fire safety across the country,” he added.
Aregbesola lamented that the year 2020 into 2021 had witnessed frightening fire incidents, ranging from markets to gas and pipelines fires around the country.
“Statistics at our disposal show that the FFS in 2020 to the first quarter of 2021 received 4,541 fire calls from which regrettably, 158 lives were lost and property loss is estimated at N41.5 billion,” he said.
The ceremony also had the presence of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, the Controller General of Federal Fire Service, the Controller General of the Nigeria Correctional Service,the House Committee Chairman on Interior, Sani Zangon Daura, DG FCT Emergency Management Alh Garba Abbas and DG NEMA represented by Director Search and Rescue an Air Commodore among other distinguished personalities.
Some of the retired officers who where ceremonially pulled out of service during the ceremony include Engr. Q.G Azogu, Deputy Controller General of Federal Fire Service, Engr. K.C Agu PhD., the Deputy Controller General of Federal Fire Service and Thompson O. Mohammed, and the Assistant Controller General of Federal Fire Service.
The occasion was held few days after new officers were decorated with new ranks which added more DCGs and ACGs ranks to the Service.
