By Victoria Onehi
The Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has indicated the need to transform the National Fire Academy (NFA) ,Sheda-FCT, into a world- class model Academy.
The Minister stated this when he paid a visit to the academy on wednesday as part of his activities to acquaint himself with the structure and operations of Agencies in the Ministry .
The Minister who was in the company of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Mrs. Oluwatoyin Akinlade and other senior members of staff of the Ministry took a tour around the NFA, led by the Controller General of Federal Fire Service (CGF), Engr Jaji O. Abdulganiyu, Commandant of the Academy, ACGF Baro Alfa and other senior officers of FFS.
The Minister was happy with the sights of infrastructure on ground e.g., Fire house props, confined space props, aircraft props, newly built and renovated hostels, state- of- the-art administrative block under construction, drill ground and tower, etc. However, he pointed succinctly the need transform the NFA into a world class model Academy.
The Minister raised the morale of the instructors by appreciating them for a good work well done. He further assured them that the dividends of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope” agenda, shall not elude them but serve as inspiration indicative for a better performance.
In a statement by the Public Relations Officer, Federal Fire Service, ACF Abraham Paul,the CGF, Engr Abdulganiyu, said the visit of Hon Tunji-Ojo was indeed a spirit lifting one, and a wake-up call towards a look at the future of training and capacity building in general.
The CGF acquainted the Minister with some of the challenges of the National Fire Academy namely; budgetary constraints, manpower shortfall, etc. He however promised that the Academy shall not only live up to its name but be at par with other prestigious learning Institutions around the world as far as Firefighting and Rescue is concerned, going by the resolute spirit and dynamic approach of the Minister.
The NFA was established in 2010 as a Training Institute for both officers and men from the Service and other organizations around the country. It is the number one elite Training School for Fire and Related emergencies in the West African Subregion and haa annex in Lagos state. It is worthy to note that six other training schools have been established in the geopolitical zones of the nation for the same purpose of raising men proficient in firefighting and rescue services.
