The Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, on Tuesday, said the Federal Fire Service saved about 166 lives and rescued a total of 82 persons in distress caused by fire or other related emergencies as 27 lives were lost to fire incidence.
He also said property worth over N15.1 trillion was rescued while property estimated at N3.017 trillion was destroyed.
This was contained in a statement by the ministry’s Director of Press, Blessing Lere-Adam.
Aregbesola was said to have disclosed this at the commissioning of the state-of-the-art fire-fighting truck deployed by the Federal Government in Taraba State.
The statement read, “It is noted that 2020 into 2021 has witnessed frightening fire incidents, ranging from markets to gas and pipelines fires around the country. Statistics at our disposal show that the FFS in the second quarter of 2021 received 638 fire calls from which regrettably, 27 lives were lost and property estimated at N3.017 trillion destroyed.
“The good news, however, is that the Service within the quarter under review also saved about 166 lives, rescued about 82 persons in distress due to fire and other related emergencies while saving property worth over N15.1 trillion”
Aregbesola also noted that the inaugurated equipment was part of the N10.4 billion infrastructure upgrade approved by the Federal Executive Council on March 3rd, 2021.
He said it comprised of 44 firefighting engines, 15 water tankers, 15 rapid intervention fire engines (not conventional ones) that can go into the nooks and crannies to respond to distressed calls, and 20 basic life support ambulances.
The minister, however, charged the State Government to invest in firefighting equipment for its own state fire service as the role of the Federal Fire Service was only complimentary and firefighting services fall under the concurrent legislative list.
In his remarks, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Dr. Ibrahim Liman, prayed the State Governor to also extend a hand of support to the Federal Fire Service in the state, saying that deployment of the modern Fire Service Truck to the state was meant to assist the firefighting efforts in the state. He noted that the responsibility of firefighting is a joint effort between the Federal, State, and Local Governments.
“The fire truck we are commissioning is a huge national asset, requiring optimum maintenance and fuelling. We craved the indulgence of the State Government to facilitate the deployment of utility vehicles to support the operation of the vehicle.
“Sir, we want you to sponsor personnel of the State Fire Service for local and foreign training in view of emerging trends in firefighting and inclusion of the Federal Fire Service in the State Security Council,” CG Ibrahim Liman stated.
