By Senator Iroegbu
Stakeholders have called on both the Nigerian Government and the private sector to pay special attention to the overall fire services in the country, as a result growing threat of terrorism, bombings and terror-related fire incidences in the country.
The Minister of National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Suleiman Abubakar, while speaking over the weekend in Abuja at the 1st National Workshop on Developing Fire Statistics Data-Base for Nigeria, organised by the Federal Fire Service (FFS), called for increased manpower and funding of fire service sector.
According to Abubakar, “Fire service is one area of human endeavour that Africans, particularly Nigeria, is yet to pay attention with regard to disaster management. The government and private sector should do everything within their means to strengthen and sustain with resources the management of fire service.”
The minister further blamed most of the problems of Nigeria on negligence and lack of foresight, which has prevented her from pre-empting disaster before it occurs.
He said: “If as a people and government we are able to detect disaster before they occurs. Our inability to identify situations that are threat to our national security is why we are where we are today be it in the area of terrorism, insurgency or disaster”, he urged.
“I am not particularly happy that we have not seen fire service as a key stakeholder in the security and development of this current. We also need accurate data and statistics on fire outbreaks in the country”, he stated.
Also speaking, the Acting Controller-General, FFS, Ademola Jolaoso, said fire prevention is key to development. “Let us rise to the challenge and let members of the public know that fire service is crucial for our national development”, Jolaoso said.
He also disclosed that over N25 billion worth of properties and three lives have been saved from fire outbreak in the country within the first half of this year.
According to him, there were 243 fire incidents from January to March 243 fire incidents with two lives saved, in addition to N20,097,502,920.00 while four lives, and properties worth N436,731,400.00 were lost within the same period.
In the same vein, April to June witnessed 132 fire incidents, properties saved is worth N5,811,817,000.00, while one life was lost and as well as N238,213,860.00.
He listed source of the fire incidents to include electrical equipment, oil and gas installation vandalisation, electrical spark, high voltage, gas/special services, accident/arson, cigarette stub, false calls/alarm, bush fire and other unknown factors.