President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, yesterday made history as he approved the inclusion of the Fire Service Rapid Intervention Truck to his convoy. He has therefore become the first president to ever do so.
The controller -general of the Federal Fire Service ( FFS) Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji made the announcement in Abuja , when he played host to the new permanent secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade.
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Abdulganiyu said, “Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given the approval to include the Service Rapid Intervention Vehicle in his motorcade. This is the first in the history of Nigeria. “
This is even as the FFS boss also disclosed that the service has procured 15 rapid firefighting mini trucks to navigate crowded terrains which were hitherto inaccessible to the larger firefighting appliances.
Abdulganiyu explained that the newly procured 15 Ford Built Rapid Intervention Vehicles which is ideal for combating fire during its initial stages had since been delivered but awaiting commissioning and deployment.
The FFS boss who also reminded Nigerians that the ministry recently commissioned Nigeria’s first Metropolitan Fire Station located in Kubwa, Abuja, added that 12 other Metropolitan Fire Stations were at various stages of completion.
On the achievements of the service under his watch the CG said, “We recently completed and commissioned the first Fire House props in West Africa located inside the National Fire Academy Sheda.
“Procurement of 15 Ford Built Rapid Intervention Vehicles, already delivered to the Service awaiting commissioning and deployment.
“Approval of Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to include the Service Rapid Intervention Vehicle in his motorcade. This is the first in the history of Nigeria.
“Other firsts include celebration of the International Firefighter’s Day.”
However, he lamented that the service lacked the needed manpower to effectively carry out its mandates.
Abdulganiyu said, “Permit me also to note some of the challenges of the FFS which includes inadequate manpower to effectively carry out our mandates, incessant attack on firefighters, housing needs for personnel, firefighting infrastructural gap and budgetary constraint, amongst others.”
The permanent secretary, Akinlade promised to prioritise the welfare of personnel in the service to keep their morale high.
She said, ” The welfare and other things needed to keep the morale of the personnel high will be given priority. The ministry will ensure you also get all the funding that you need. We also call on the state governments to support the fire service to reduce the burden on the Federal Fire service.”