The federal government at the weekend inaugurated 10 brand new fire-fighting trucks worth over N12 billion to be deployed in Lagos, Kano and Abuja airports.
The trucks were handed over to the Aerodrome Rescue and Fire-fighting Service (ARFFS) department of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).
The Minister of Aviation, Senator Hadi Sirika, who inaugurated the trucks, said lack of adequate fire cover at the Port Harcourt Airport contributed to the deaths of passengers in the 2005 Sosoliso crash.
The Sosoliso Airlines flight 1145 is one of the fatal crashes recorded in Nigeria’s aviation, killing 108 passengers on board, including 60 students of Loyola Jesuit School, who were heading home for holiday.
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The minister said many of the passengers would have been saved with adequate fire cover at the airport.
He said the 10 trucks would help in curtailing any unforeseen disaster and improve the safety rating of the airports.
The minister noted that the Muhammadu Buhari-led administration had made its focal point since 2015 to invest in safety critical equipment to improve safety, security and efficiency of air transportation.
“You all remember our children that left Abuja to Port Harcourt in the Sosoliso crash, we couldn’t save these children because when the aircraft landed, they were still alive, we didn’t have adequate proper fire cover to save those lives. Parents were seeing their children burnt alive. It is so sad,” he said.
Managing Director of FAAN, Capt. Hamisu Yadudu, explained that each of the “super-structure, ultra-modern major firefighting vehicles” carries 14,000 litres of water; 1,700 litres of foam and 250kg powder capacity and also monitors the discharge rate of between 6,000 litres to 10,000 Litres per minute.
He said, “Acceleration rate is from 0 to 80km/hr in 30 seconds. The truck can discharge while in motion (professional pump and roll operation) and is equipped with under chassis nozzles to tackle running fuel fire.
“These vehicles would be deployed to MMA Lagos, NAIA Abuja and MAKIA Kano while we are also processing additional vehicles for Port-Harcourt and Enugu.”
He disclosed that the comprehensive training for the end users of the vehicles and mechanical units would be given.
“This is to ensure the vehicles are not only used as specified by the manufacturers, they would also be maintained accordingly.
“In addition to acquisition of the major firefighting vehicles we have procured eight (8) new water tankers for continuous agent applications and more will still come. Additional eleven (11) ambulances were also procured to replace the obsolete ones that were bought in 1996,” he added.
