By Victoria Onehi
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji- Ojo has said the Fire Service Response services will be decentralised for effective service delivery.
Tunji- Ojo stated this when he paid a farmiliarasation visit to the Federal Fire Service (FFS) headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
” We will do everything humanly possible to decentralise our services. I am happy with the Fire Service Response trucks I saw. We are going to decentralise Fire Service Response trucks to markets, shopping malls and high- rise building areas. This will enable them respond fast when there is fire outbreaks.”he said.
The Minister further thanked Firefighters for the role they play in saving lives, properties and millions of naira from going down the drain by curtailing fire outbreaks accross the country .
” The Federal Fire Service is a very important agency whose service is very mandatory and not optional. Your service is a national service and your sacrifices are not neglegible. We are greatful for what you do. We appreciate your services. Thank you for the lives and properties you have saved.Thank you for the role you play – you save billions of naira in the economy from going down the drain.” the Minister said.
Tunji-Ojo said with the present administrations ‘renewed hope’ agenda,the Federal Government will support the Federal Fire Service to do better.
” We understand how your role is and we will support you to do better. We will invest in getting more Fire Fighting equipments and buildi the capacity of our fire fighting men.Go with the renewed vigour and a fighting spirit of a Nigerian.”the minister said.
In his response ,the Controller- General of Federal Fire Service,Engr. Jaji O. Abudulganiyu said the service was confident that the minister will use the might and influence of his good office to help resolve some if not all of the service issues.
Abudulganiyu appreciated the immediate past administration which he said was very supportive of the Service.
“We were given a robust window as a thriving Agency, hence the remarkable successes achieved so far and giant strides made. As a matter of fact, the paradigm shift in the Service was as a result of the unflinching support we enjoyed.
” As a Service I will like to pledge our unalloyed loyalty to your office and work together to achieve your set out promises to Nigerians particularly in the area of fire and other related emergencies.” Abudulganiyu said.