Fire Service creates 6 more zones to curb disaster

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Controller General, Federal Fire Service (FFS) Liman Ibrahim yesterday revealed that the service under him created six new zones to bolster its fight against fire outbreaks across the country.
Speaking yesterday while addressing newsmen at the headquarters of the service in Abuja, Ibrahim said the new zones were necessary to prevent issues of disasters.
“The new zones created under my watch included: “zone G which comprises of Niger, Kogi & Kwara, with headquarters in Minna. Zone H -Sokoto, Zamfara & Kebbi with headquarters in Sokoto. Zone I-Adamawa, Taraba & Gombe, with headquarters in Yola. Zone J -Owerri & Abia, with headquarters in owerri. Zone K-Delta, Edo & Bayelsa, with headquarters in Asaba. Zone L-Osun, Ondo & Ekiti with headquarters Oshogbo.”
He said they were zones added to the other six that were in existence before he came.
“For those of you who were present at my decoration by the former Minister of interior, I did say that I was coming at a time wheen Mr President was taking Nigerians to the next level, and I promised to join that flight and take the Federal Fire Service to the Next level as well.
“These Zonal Headquarters are to be equipped with a minimum number of 2 state of the art firefighting trucks and manned by well trained and experienced firemen.
“The essence of our spread is to deliver fire services to Nigerian and to improve on our response time to emergencies as well as to compliment efforts of the State Fire Services. Within this period of my appointment we have received and commissioned 12 modern fire trucks which are being deployed to the newly created zones. So far, Sokoto and Niger States have taken delivery.
“When I assumed office, one of my major goals was to see how the State Fire Service can be strengthened for effectiveness and efficiency and to achieve that I have beeN reaching out to State Governors, supporting and encouraging them to do the needful about their Fire Services. I also believe that a strengthened State Fire Service complimented by our presence in the Zones will go a long way in addressing the gaps in fire service delivery across the country.
Speaking further, Ibrahim, said he has renovated the Nyanya Fire Station in Abuja which covers suburbs of Nasarawa State.
“We have received approval for the establishment of additional 5 fire service training schools which will soon take off. They are located in Maiduguri, Calabar, llorin, Katsina, and Umuahia. These Training Schools will provide training for not just the Federal Fire Service personnel but the State Fire Services and other Fire Services within and outside the country.”