Fire Disasters: FG To Decentralize Emergency Response

[qtplaces mapid=”” template=”1″ open=”1″ limit=”” mapheight=”500″ mapheightmobile=”” autozoom=”1″ streetview=”1″ getdirections=”Open in Google Maps” mapcolor=”normal” listimages=”1″ showfilters=”1″ posttype=”” taxonomy=”” terms=”” debug=”0″ mousewheel=”0″ buttoncolor=”” buttonbackground=”” listbackground=”” markercolor=””]The Federal Government has announced plans to decentralize emergency response, especially in mitigating fire disasters.

Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo disclosed this when he inspected facilities at the headquarters of the Federal Fire Service, FFS.

Dr Tunji-Ojo who was impressed with some of the state of the art facilities, also commended firefighters for the various sacrifices they have made in the cause of duty, noting that many lost their lives and limbs.

Noting that fire fighting is not optional but mandatory, the minister charged officers and men of the Service to brace up to the challenges of the modern era.

“We appreciate your sacrifices and they will never go unnoticed. We are grateful for what you are doing. We are indebted for your service and we can only continue to leave in the debt of gratitude. We thank you for the lives and property that you have saved and for your contributions to national development and the economy.

Dr Tunji-Ojo also assured contractors handling various projects for the Service of prompt payment of their contractual fees.

He said the responsibility of government is the protection of lives and property stressing that the government would live up to its responsibility by providing firefighting appliances.

On capacity building, the Minister said training schools will no longer be dumping grounds as officers would be trained and retrained in modern techniques and equip them accordingly.

Earlier, the Controller General of Fire Service, Mr. Abdulganiyu Jaji said the Service has greatly improved from what it used to be barely a decade ago.

On the challenges facing the Service, Mr Jaji listed inadequate manpower, attack on fire fighters, housing needs for personnel, firefighting infrastructural gap, budgetary constraints and lack of a befitting corporate headquarters among others.

He pledged the service’s unalloyed loyalty to the office of the minister to achieve set objectives particularly in the area of fire and other related emergencies.

Nkiru Njemanze, Edited By Grace Namiji