The Federal Government of Nigeria is planning to decentralize its fire service emergency response system to enhance its ability to respond swiftly to emergencies across the country. The Minister of Interior, Bunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this announcement while inspecting the facilities of various paramilitary organizations under his purview.
The government’s plan involves stationing firefighting trucks at every economic zone in Nigeria. This decentralization initiative aims to reduce response time to fire emergencies, ultimately minimizing the substantial economic losses incurred due to such disasters.
Minister Tunji-Ojo emphasized the importance of having immediate responders, like the fire service, present at economic zones and markets to swiftly address fire incidents and prevent further damage.
Additionally, he pledged that the personnel of the Federal Fire Service would receive adequate training in handling modern firefighting equipment to enhance their capabilities.
The Minister highlighted the government’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property and assured the provision of firefighting appliances to support the fire service’s operations. He also emphasized that training schools for fire service personnel would focus on modern techniques and equip them accordingly.
Jaji Abdulganiyu, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, identified several challenges faced by the organization, including inadequate manpower, attacks on firefighters, housing needs for personnel, firefighting infrastructure gaps, and budgetary constraints. He expressed confidence that the Minister of Interior would use his influence to help address these issues.
The decentralization of the fire service emergency response system is a significant step toward improving the country’s emergency preparedness and response capabilities, particularly in mitigating the impact of fire disasters.