The disclosure was made by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, during the inauguration of newly acquired Fire fighting equipment, including 16 trucks and six vehicles, at the Federal Fire Service Headquarters in Abuja, on the preceding day.
The individual provided an explanation for the current impediment to work, attributing it to the implementation of new legislation aimed at modernizing firefighting practices in Nigeria.
The area in which your proficiency is evident is in the reduction of fire incidents rather than the quantity of fires actively combated during a certain timeframe.
The tasks encompassed the extinguishment of fires, preservation of lives and property, provision of assistance during accidents, and safeguarding individuals in the event of other crises.
The Federal Fire and Rescue Service will be responsible for gathering data throughout Nigeria and ensuring the well-being and safety of its personnel.
I require comprehensive information pertaining to the complete spectrum of anticipated fire incidents, including their respective geographical locations and the corresponding strategies and resources necessary for their suppression. It is imperative that this be pursued as the subsequent course of action. Government agencies prioritize problem-solving above preventive planning.
The author observes that after the laws are prepared, there will be a reduction in the required number of firemen, as well as a specification of the necessary presence of firefighters in all public facilities throughout the nation. Consequently, this will facilitate the employment of additional personnel.
According to Tunji-Ojo, the correlation between the number of firemen in a nation and its level of development suggests that Nigeria's position as one of the top global economies would be hindered by its relatively low population of firefighters.
There exists a clear association between sophistication, industrialization, and fire service, as economic growth necessitates the expansion of fire service coverage. The fire service is intricately linked to the progress and advancement of any given nation.
According to the speaker, Nigeria has a relatively low number of employed firemen, with little over 6,000 government firefighters, placing it among the countries with the fewest firefighters globally.
In terms of a comparative analysis, Dr. Tunji-Oo highlighted the contrasting numbers of fire houses in New York (255) and fire stations in Los Angeles (160), which provide insight into the ideal framework for firefighting and rescue operations. It is worth mentioning that the United States boasts a substantial workforce of over a million fire fighters, encompassing both employed professionals and dedicated volunteers.
According to his statement, the approval of the law by the National Assembly will significantly alter the discourse surrounding fire fighting inside the nation.
FFS can be considered a dormant entity with significant potential. The proposed solution should not just involve fire suppression but also encompass the ability to predict potential hazards. The speaker emphasized the importance of being proactive, stating that they do not want performance to be just measured by the number of buildings or infrastructure saved from fires, but rather by the effectiveness of preventive measures in mitigating and preventing threats.
As a collective, it is imperative that we refrain from only expressing superficial support and displaying a lackadaisical approach towards the matter of fire. From a personal standpoint, I hold the belief that the Federal Fire Service (FFS) should serve as the primary source of employment for the labor force in Nigeria. The task at hand simply requires us to engage in critical thought. It is imperative for the Fire and Rescue Service (FFS) to fulfill its overarching duty, which extends beyond the mere suppression of fires.
This pertains to the anticipation of potential hazards. There is a need to transition from a focus on remedial efforts to a proactive approach, which would enable the implementation of preventative measures that have the potential to provide significant cost savings in the millions of Naira.
The Federal Fire Service (FFS) is required to have a tight working relationship with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in order to ensure comprehensive security coverage. The speaker acknowledges the challenges faced by our FFS personnel when they are subjected to attacks while performing their lawful tasks. However, the speaker suggests that the presence of the NSCDC in providing protection will likely mitigate such incidents.
According to Engineer Jaji Abdulganiyu, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, the fire statistics during the first and second quarter of 2023 serve as evidence of a successfully re-engineered Service. The Data Repository Centre's records indicate that there were a total of 1,096 fire calls during this period. Additionally, the Service was able to save 111 lives through successful rescues, with a total of 91 rescues being carried out. Furthermore, the Service managed to save properties worth over N300 billion.
The individual expressed confidence in the forthcoming deployment of advanced firefighting vehicles and Ford Rapid Response Vehicles (RRV), anticipating significant accomplishments.
