President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made history by approving the addition of the Fire Service Rapid Intervention Truck to his convoy. As a result, he is the first president in history to do so.
Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji, controller-general of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), made the announcement in Abuja while hosting the new permanent secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade.
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 comes as the FFS chief revealed that the service has purchased 15 rapid firefighting mini trucks to navigate crowded terrains that were previously inaccessible to larger firefighting appliances.
According to Abdulganiyu, the newly acquired 15 Ford Built Rapid Intervention Vehicles, which are ideal for combating fire in its early stages, have been delivered but are awaiting commissioning and deployment.
The FFS chief also reminded Nigerians that the ministry recently commissioned Nigeria’s first Metropolitan Fire Station in Kubwa, Abuja, and that 12 other Metropolitan Fire Stations were nearing completion.
On the service’s accomplishments during his tenure, the CG stated, “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.
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