This move was unveiled during the minister's inspection of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) headquarters.
During the inspection, Dr. Tunji-Ojo expressed his admiration for the state-of-the-art facilities at the FFS and commended the firefighters for their dedication to duty, acknowledging the sacrifices many of them have made, including the loss of lives and limbs.
The minister stated that firefighting is not a choice but a mandate and urged the officers and personnel of the Service to prepare themselves for the challenges of the modern era. He emphasized the importance of decentralizing the emergency response system, particularly in economic zones and markets, where immediate response to fire incidents is crucial.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo praised the Federal Fire Service as a vital government agency, underscoring its indispensability in the protection of lives and property. He expressed gratitude for the sacrifices of the firefighters and their contributions to national development and the economy.
He assured the contractors handling various projects for the Service of prompt payment for their contractual work and stressed the government's commitment to providing firefighting appliances, capacity building, and the rehabilitation of fire service offices.
The Controller General of Fire, Engr. Abudulganiyu Jaji, noted the significant improvements made by the Service in the past decade. He said challenges such as inadequate manpower, attacks on firefighters, housing needs for personnel, infrastructural gaps, budgetary constraints, and the lack of a suitable corporate headquarters.
He expressed confidence in the minister's commitment to resolving these issues and pledged the Service's unwavering loyalty in achieving the government's promises in fire and emergency response.
