FFS Receives 25 Fire Trucks in 116 Years

• FFS Receives 25 Fire Trucks in 116 Years

The Federal Fire Service has received 25 new fire trucks and water tenders for the first time since it was established 116 years ago in 1901.

The trucks, which consist of 14 fire engines and 11 water tenders, were unveiled by the Minister of Interior, Abdulrahman Dambazau, at the Old Parade Ground, Abuja on Tuesday.

The minister admitted that the FFS had not received its deserved attention and support from the government, adding that the service would henceforth get more equipment and logistics to enhance its performance in service delivery.

The minister thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for the release of funds for the procurement of the fire engines, the cost of which he did not disclose.

Dambazau said, “It will interest you to know that this is the first time we are making such a huge release for procurement of equipment for the service since it was established in 1901. I want to task the Comptroller-General and his men to show more tenacity in the discharge of their duties.”

Speaking earlier, the CG, Federal Fire Service, Joseph Anebi, described the acquisition of the engines as a morale booster to the FFS personnel, noting that the agency had been relying on 20 refurbished fire engines to carry out their responsibility.

He added, “Like the minister rightly stated in his speech, the Federal Fire Service has never been remembered like this since its inception in 1901. I want to assure you that my men and I at the Federal Fire Service will put in 100 per cent in the discharge of our responsibility of fire fighting and disaster management.”

Anebi disclosed that the FFS had established more fire stations in the Federal Capital Territory as well as zonal and state commands outside the FCT, noting that many abandoned and new projects had also been completed.

The CG stated that the service had been able to create a good relationship with the various state fire services for efficient service delivery to Nigerians.

“The Federal Fire Service has also provided sponsorship for state fire service personnel to be trained on fire safety code enforcement at the National Fire Academy,” Anebi stated.

“In the area of training and capacity building, it would interest you to know that the service has upgraded the National Fire Academy to a degree-awarding institution,” he added.