The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Abdulganiyu Jaji, has said the Federal Government of Nigeria is in discussion with the National Fire Fighting Manufacturing FZCO (NAFFCO) in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and the Turkish Army to train personnel of the Service in specialised areas of firefighting.
These specialised areas, according to him, include chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear firefighting.
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He disclosed this during a media parley with journalists in Abuja on Thursday as part of activities to mark his 100 days in office as the Controller General of the FFS.
NAFFCO is a Middle East-based manufacturer of firefighting products with its headquarters in Dubai, UAE.
The controller general said NAFFCO will not only train personnel of the FFS but will also provide the FFS with equipment to combat fire in the country.
He also said the Ministry of Interior recently led a delegation to Turkey to discuss possible collaboration between the FFS and the Turkish Army.
He said an agreement would be signed soon to allow personnel of the service to build their capacity in specialized areas of firefighting.
Jaji also said the FFS will focus more on the construction of fire stations under his watch, adding that loss to fire would be reduced when fire stations are closer to the people.
“The fire service Act states that fire stations should be within a 2.5km radius of each other. This reduces our response time.
“I want to embark seriously on the construction of fire stations to reduce fire incidents. Most of our constructions now focus on fire stations,” he said adding that 13 metropolitan fire stations were currently being constructed across the country.
While reeling out his achievement in 100 days, Jaji disclosed that the service fought 519 fire outbreaks and saved properties worth N56.92 billion since he came on board.
He said, from April 28 that he took over the saddle of the firefighting agency to date, the service had recorded a total of 23 deaths and rescued 38 persons in distress due to fire-related emergencies.
Jaji, however, lamented that the country lost a whooping N11.63 billion to fire within the period under review
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