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Tag: fire service

  • Ambode reiterates commitment to repositioning fire service

    Ambode reiterates commitment to repositioning fire service

    Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State on Tuesday reiterated his administration’s commitment to repositioning the Department of Fire Service to meet global standards of fire prevention.

    Ambode gave this assurance at the Passing-Out Parade/Induction Ceremony of 100 Newly Trained Firemen (Squad 19) held at the Lagos State Fire Service Headquarters, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.

    The governor, who was represented by Mr Oluseye Oladejo, the Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, said he was committed to emergency rescue service.

    “In view of the growing population and rapid physical development in Lagos State, our administration realised the urgent need to expand the operational frontiers of the Fire Service.

    “This is to meet the expectations of people in terms of prompt response, management and execution strategy.

    “We have also devoted time, resources and energy to reposition the Department of Fire Service to place emphasis on proactive approach to fire prevention.

    “We are also devoted to safety advocacy in order to educate and enlighten the public on how to prevent and manage fire outbreaks.

    “This would reduce domestic and occupational fire hazards to barest minimum.

    “The Department is also now better equipped to coordinate, receive and respond to fire outbreak across the state,’’ he said.

    Ambode said that the recruitment and training of new firemen showed the government’s commitment to institutionise a safety culture in the state.

    He said the recruitment and training also spoke volume of his administration’s determination to improve efficiency and response time.

    “We have upscaled the functionality of the fire fighters with new set of 100 operatives.

    “These fire fighters have just completed their mandatory training and are being inducted into the fire service today to join the existing fire fighters.

    “We have also recently recruited additional 150 fire officers who are currently undergoing training and will be inducted into the fire service in the next few months.

    “With this boost of personnel for the directorate, we hope there will be an improvement in the response pace of our officers to emergency occurrences.’’

    The governor urged the new fire-fighters to uphold the ethics of the fire service and dedicate themselves to the prevention of fire outbreaks as well as protection of lives of Lagosians.

    He said that the state government had also set up fire service stations at Ijegun, Eredo, Badagry, Ijede and Ikorodu areas of the state.

    Earlier in his address, Mr Rasak Fadipe, the Director of Fire Service, said the service, before now, received new recruits last about eight years ago.

    “I wish to congratulate the recruit firemen that are passing out today.

    “I urge you to go out there and fulfil your dream by actually putting into practice all that you have been taught in training.

    “This is your life and the best you can give is serving your fatherland,’’ he said.

    Miss Olanrewaju Akanbi, the best fireman, said:“I feel good to be the best.

    “ It is all about dedication. The training has taught me team work and I promise to give my best to safety of lives and property.”

    The event also featured physical exercise drill, use of portable first aid fire equipment, demonstration of house on fire, and award presentations to distinguished firemen.

  • Fire service rescues woman from pit latrine in Kano

    Fire service rescues woman from pit latrine in Kano

    The Kano State Fire Service on Monday said it successfully rescued a 48-year-old woman, Aisha Usman, after she accidentally fell into a collapsed pit latrine at her residence on Sunday.

    The Public Relations Officer of the service, Alhaji Saidu Mohammed, said in Kano on Monday that the incident occurred while the woman was trying to use the rest room at her residence in Sharifawa in Gaya Local Government Area of the state.

    He said that the service received a distress call from a relative shortly after the incident around 6.45 p.m. on Sunday after which it swung into action.

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    He added that “upon receiving the information, we quickly dispatched our rescue team and a vehicle to the scene at about 7 p.m.”

    He expressed joy that the woman was rescued without sustaining injuries.

    He added that “we rescued the woman and handed her over to the husband.”

    Mohammed advised residents to be cautious in using pit latrines to avoid future accidents.

    NAN

  • Deaf man survives after being hit by train in Kano

    Deaf man survives after being hit by train in Kano

    A 28-year-old deaf man,  Isa Abubakar, is receiving treatment at the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital in Kano after being  hit by a moving train in Sharada Saberi area of the metropolis.

    Abubabar, a petty trader,  was said to have been pushed off  the train’s  tracks at a shop close to the rail line at Sharada.

    The Public Relations Officer of the Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Saidu Mohammed,  confirmed the incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Thursday.

    He said that an eye witness called  the fire service at about 1:26 p:m after the incident.

    “Upon receiving the information, we quickly despatched our rescue team and a vehicle to the scene at about 1:34 p:m,” he said.

    Mohammed said  Abubakar sustained serious injuries  and was taken to the Murtala Muhammed Specialist Hospital  where he is currently receiving treatment.

    He advised  motorists and other road users  to be careful while crossing the rail line, adding that  those who may be physically challenged  should  seek help.

    NAN reports that petty traders are usually seen selling their wares on  rail lines in different locations in the state.

  • Martin Agbili urges residents to eschew bush burning

    Martin Agbili urges residents to eschew bush burning

    Mr Martin Agbili, the Director, Anambra Fire Service, has urged residents of the state to have a fire safety management plan in addition to fire extinguishers at home and workplaces during the harmattan period.

    Agbili said in Awka on Thursday that the call became necessary now that people could also be tempted to store petrol at home, to check scarcity.

    “We are in the dry season of the year and it is the harmattan period. I want to use this opportunity to urge Anambra residents to handle naked fires with care, they should avoid things that can cause fires, as they can be prevented.

    “Now that there is fuel scarcity, people should not hoard or store fuel in their homes.

    “The use of knockouts should be highly discouraged, if you must use candles, please ensure you place them on a metal base and if there are bushes around your house, church, market and office, clear it to a minimum of five feet, so that in the event of a fire, it can be checked before it inflames your building.

    “There is need for people to plan for fire safety management, this will minimise outbreaks. They should arm themselves with fire extinguishers in their cars, offices and homes, that is the first aid treatment in the event of a fire outbreak,’’ he said.

    Read also: NAFDAC headquarters gutted by fire

    Agbili said people should avoid the temptation of storing petrol in their homes and be more careful in the use of fireworks, if they must do so.

    He said the people’s surroundings should be cleared of bushes, while they shun  negative practices such as bush- burning during the harmattan.

    While warning the residents that lit candles should be placed on metal surfaces, the director said everybody should also take precautionary measures against acts that could cause fire outbreaks.

    Agbili assured the people that the Fire Service in the state was ready to respond to distress calls in the event of fire outbreaks anywhere within the state, provided that the department received timely information from the public.

    He thanked the state governor for equipping the fire service department in the state and re-positioning it for efficiency and effectiveness.

    “The Anambra Fire Service is prepared to fight fire outbreaks anywhere, all we need is to be notified on time.

    “I want to thank Gov. Willie Obiano and the Commissioner for Utilities who have ensured that all our fire-fighting equipment remain in good shape.

    “Our trucks are capable of reaching anywhere in the state, in good time,’’ he added.

    NAN

  • FG, National Assembly pledge to fix Fire Service

    FG, National Assembly pledge to fix Fire Service

    Minister of Interior, Abdulrahaman Danbazzau, Wednesday pledged the effort of the Federal Government to turn about the Nigeria Fire Service.

    Danbazau who also commended the determination of the National Assembly to assist in the turnaround of the Service, noted that until the coming of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration the Fire Service was in comatose.

    The Minister gave spoke in Abuja at a two day international fire conference and exhibition organized by the Senate and House of Representatives Joint Committee on Interior

    He described the state of affairs of the Fire Service as deplorable before the coming of the present Administration.

    He noted that the quick intervention of the National Assembly in appropriating the needed funds for operations and purchase firefighting equipment contributed in ensuring that fire safety and prevention standards are met to international requirement.

    Danbazau who noted that it is important that certain infrastructure in the country should be protected, noted that Nigeria has in the last 30 years witnessed fire disasters involving critical facilities amounting for colossal loss of lives and valuable property.

    He described the effect of fire outbreaks as retrogressive to infrastructural development capable of causing mass unemployment and insecurity.

    The Minister stressed the need for further intervention by the National Assembly in coming out with legislations that will strengthen the Nigeria Fire Service which “if given the right trainings, resources and equipment can prevent outrageous situations.”

    He said, “The minister hoping that with the trend of support received so far by the present administration the Nigeria Fire Service would be one of the best in five years to come, but observed that it has a long way to go before meeting international standard.”

    Chairman, Senate Committee on Interior, Senator Andy Uba attributed major causes of fire outbreaks to human error.

    Senator Uba said that there is a general consensus that there is the need to mitigate the trend, by stopping the fire outbreak before they start.

    He also stressed the need to reposition the Fire Service delivery to make it more modern and more efficient, to investigate the root causes of fire especially in commercial centers, within the oil and gas sector that recorded the highest number of incidents.

    Uba promised that the National Assembly will create a framework for legislative intervention either through the instrumentality of the national budget, oversight, amendment to existing pieces of legislation or formulation of new laws.

  • Fire Disasters: Lagos saves N99bn worth of properties in one year

    Fire Disasters: Lagos saves N99bn worth of properties in one year

    …Builds Four New Fire Stations, Emergency Response Units  

     

    Lagos State Government on Thursday said about N99.7billion worth of properties were saved from fire incidences recorded in the State in the last one year.

    Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Oluseye Oladejo who disclosed this during the Ministerial Press Briefing held at the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa to commemorate the second year in office of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode’s administration, said the government stepped up its emergency apparatus to respond to fire disasters and other emergency situations.

    “I can give you some information about the value of the properties saved from fire disasters and that would give an estimate total of N99.72billion during the period under review and the estimated properties lost totals N16.62billion,” Oladejo said.

    Speaking further, the Commissioner said that in line with the State Government’s resolve to prevent and manage fire outbreaks across the State, Governor Ambode approved the creation of four new fire stations in the State.

    “As at now, Lagos State can now boast of 14 (Fourteen) Fire Stations across the State and all are equipped to combat fire outbreak”, he added.

    Oladejo said government had scaled up activities in Monitoring and Surveillance in the State and also intensified safety advocacy campaign in order to inform, educate and enlighten the public on the prevention and management of fire outbreaks.

    He said the Lagos Safety Commission is saddled with the responsibility of setting safety standard for business premises, event centres, churches and other public buildings.

    “They don’t have any no-go-areas to ensure that we put safety measures in place in the course of construction and the rest of it. That is the preventive part of our business. For rescue, that is the business of other agencies like Fire Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA),” he said.

    Oladejo, therefore, called on stakeholders to join hands with government in a bid to reduce emergency response time while also urging Lagosians to explore the limitless opportunities available on the platform of the State Command and Control Centre and continue to call the emergency toll free lines – 767 and 112 for distress calls.

    “You can be assured of prompt response from these numbers on a 24-hour basis”, he said.

    He said the government’s decision to replicate the Lagos Response Unit (LRU) in other locations in the State was to take the service closer to the people, noting that emergency rescue was a matter of response time and proximity of the service providers.

    “So that informed the position of the government to establish one at Lekki and we are also establishing one at Ikorodu Road where we used to Bode Benson Hotel and we are also establishing one at Badagry. When you look at the spread, you would see that our intention is to take the service closer to the people. In the years ahead, we also hope to put up more structures to attend to the needs of Lagosians”, Oladejo said.

    Responding to complaints as to why some members of the defunct Neighbourhood Watchers were not absorbed into the recently inaugurated Neighbourhood Safety Corps (NSC), the Commissioner explained that some were found wanting during the period of screening, adding that those who passed the screening have been employed into the Corps.

    “What the Governor said was that they should be given priority and they should be examined and put through the normal screening which other applicants would also go through and they are accessed based on their mental, physical and psychological fitness to fit into the new scheme.

    “You will agree with me that some of these people we are talking about are as old as 65 to 70 years and you just wonder what manner of security somebody like that would do and some were also found wanting in regards to their health status.

    “Those taken on board so far constitute about 40 percent of those who were in the    old neighbourhood watch, so definitely the Governor’s directive has been carried out in that regard,” he said.

    He allayed fears that some politicians might have hijacked the recruitment process, noting that Governor Ambode had appointed a retired Deputy Inspector General, Israel Ajao to head the NSC so as to forestall such occurrence.

     

  • NAICOM gets N83m for Fire Service

    NAICOM gets N83m for Fire Service

    The National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) has resolved a long-standing issue of 0.25 per cent fire service maintenance fund between the insurance industry and the Federal Fire Service as it recouped N82 million for the Service, Commissioner for Insurance, Mohammed Kari, has said.

    Kari, who made this known to reporters in Abuja, said the 0.25 per cent is a revenue to be contributed by insurance firms to the fire service maintenance fund.

    He said the issue had remained in contention since the enactment of the Insurance Act 2003.

    According to him, the revenue is part of the objectives of the market Development and Restructuring Initiative (MDRI) project, adding that it is expected to bring about efficiency and consumer protection in the market and grow insurance premium..

    He said the Commission had been working with the Fire Service to address the issue, adding that the Service has the power to seal any business or public building that is not insured.

    He said: “We have been able to solve the main area of contention between insurers and the Fire Service which has to do with 0.25 per cent contribution. This has been due since the enactment of the Insurance Act 2003.

    “We visited the Federal Fire Service and had discussions with the management. We also engaged the industry and the insurers graciously through the Fire Offices Committee set up by the Nigeria Insurers Association (NIA), which has 41 members contributed N2 million each. Based on this, the Commission was able to collect N82 million for the Fire Service. The Commission also pledged N10 million towards the Service conference  in Minna.”

    He said the commission, however, would redesign the return forms to indicate the compulsory classes, especially the fire public building insurance so that the 0 .25 per cent could be deducted and paid to the fire service.

    He added that they had started redesigning the return certificates to avoid backlogs.

    He noted that they had also met with the chief deputy comptroller and constituted a committee, which the fire service nominated three members.

    Kari said: ‘’NAICOM has the responsibility to manage the fund because we are not only giving equipment but we will also train the firemen and provide other services in support of the enforcement of public building policy.

    “The good thing about working together with the agency is that the fire service has the power to seal any business or public premises that is not insured. We believe that the amount and potential of premium from the insurance of this public building will be a huge boost to the premium income of this industry.’’

    He added: “It will also bring development of infrastructure and of the fire services. The meeting we had with the fire services considered the position of the state fire services. We were told that with just N200, 000, some states can buy fire engine. We decided that we will not stop at buying engine but buy some other fire equipment and brand them.’’

  • Row over death of Fire Service officer

    Row over death of Fire Service officer

    •Family alleges foul play  

    • ‘We found him  in his pool of blood’ 

    Was Ime Okon Eyo, an Assistant Commander with the Federal Fire Service (FFS), killed?

    His family members are alleging foul play in his death and are demanding probe.

    Eyo died on May 6 when he came from Abuja, where he had just been transferred to, to pack his things from the Fire Service Barracks in Ojuelegba, Surulere, Lagos, Mainland.

    “An autopsy report said his death was “primarily caused by intracranial haemorrhage as a result of basal skull fracture.”

    His sister, Mrs. Gloria Ekpenyong and her husband, Henry, said they left him at the Barracks with some of his colleagues around 6pm that fateful day.

    They said they received phone calls between 6:45am and 7am on May 7 that he died around 10pm the previous day and his body was deposited at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) mortuary.

    He was said to have blood on his mouth and nostrils, and injuries on his face and the back of his head when his relatives saw his body at the mortuary.

    The family, through its lawyer, Enobong Etteh, is seeking “thorough investigation” of the death of Eyo, who The Nation gathered was a Pastor at Narrow Way Gospel Ministry in Itire, Surulere.

    Etteh said: “Until his brutal murder, the deceased was a serving public officer deployed to the Federal Fire Service. His last rank was Assistant Commander Fire at the Command Headquarters, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja. The deceased public officer was last seen on May 6, at the service quarters, Ojuelegba in the company of Fire Service colleagues and friends. At about 6:45am on May 7, a member of our client’s family, Henry Ekpenyong, received a call from Mr. Asako Asuquo, a colleague of the deceased, informing him that Mr. Ime Okon Eyo was dead.

    “About the same time, Ekpenyong’s wife (the deceased’s sister), received a call from another colleague of the deceased, Mr. Macaulay Anthony, an Assistant Commander, also informing her that Ime was dead. Anthony then requested that she should come over to the Fire Service at Ojuelegba. Our clients met at the Fire Service Quarters and proceeded to LUTH mortuary led by Macaulay Anthony, Isang Asuquo, Ewa Ekeng and other Fire officers. Macaulay Anthony and Isang Asuquo informed our clients that they received a telephone call the previous night that the deceased was dead and that they should come and identify the body at LUTH.

    “Our clients were further informed that they met Ekpenyong Iwat, a fellow Fire Officer at the Mortuary in the company of some pastors from the Narrow Way Gospel Ministry. We have reported this cold blooded assassination to the Inspector-General of Police, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service and other relevant government agencies. Our clients are calling on the President, the Minister for Interior and all the relevant agencies of government to ensure a thorough investigation into this assassination and the culprits brought to book. This is one assassination of a public servant that must not be swept under the carpet.”

    The Nations gathered that the late Eyo had gone to 1, Balogun Street in Itire to visit a female friend, Vera Mbang, at about 9:30pm that fateful day.

    We was found on the floor there bleeding and rushed to LUTH where he was confirmed dead.

    Mbang told The Nation that she found him on the ground near the stairs, bleeding, adding that she screamed for her neighbours to assist in rushing him to hospital.

    She said: “He’s my friend and a pastor in my church. I have known him for about four years. He usually came to our place and he was a very quiet and likable person. That is why I do not think anyone would have wanted him dead. It was raining the day he came. It was in the night and I was upstairs. But, suddenly, I heard someone shout and when I came down, I saw him on the ground with blood everywhere. I really do not know what happened, but I guess he might have fallen.

    “So, immediately I saw him, I called my neighbours to come and help so that we could rush him to the hospital. While they took him to the hospital, I ran to the church to inform the senior pastor of what had happened and they went to the hospital. They were the ones who told me later that he died.

    I never knew any of his family members and so, there was no way I would have contacted them.”

    One of her neighbours, Chioma Nwankwo, who signed the mortuary card for the late Eyo’s body to be deposited, said he was gasping for breath when she saw him.

    “It was raining and I was fetching water. I went up to get other buckets to continue fetching water but when I got to the stairs, I saw a shadow and someone gasping for breath. I asked who it was but the person did not answer. Since I wasn’t properly dressed, I went back into the room to put on my clothes but by the time I came downstairs, I saw him on the ground with so much blood. I raised the alarm and others came. We rushed him to the hospital in one of my neighbour’s cars, where he was confirmed dead.”

  • Explosion rocks CBN in Calabar

    Explosion rocks CBN in Calabar

    • Several feared dead

    An explosion occurred on Friday morning at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Calabar office.

    As at the time of filing this report, several people have been feared dead.

    Details later.

     

    IMG_1739
    The CBN after the explosion on Friday

  • ‘State of federal fire service worrisome’

    Minister for Interior Gen. Bello Dambazzau at the weekend described the state of facilities at the Federal Fire Service as worrisome.

    Dambazzau, who was in Lagos on tour of agencies and corporations under the ministry, wondered how the fire service was expected to function without equipment.

    While inspecting the fire offices at Ebute Meta and Ojuelegba, he observed that there was no functional tanker and the water bank had not worked for a long time.

    He observed the dilapidated state of the complex, wondering how the trainees were taught without equipment.

    The minister assured officers that priority would be given to the procurement of  equipment.

    He said the  ministry would partner states willing to assist the agency.

    According to him, Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has indicated interest to equip the fire service.

    The agency’s Commanding Officer in Lagos, Olushola Aderemi, said an average of 10 fire calls was received across the agency’s 15 stations in the state.

    Aderemi suggested the creation of two fire stations at Badagry and Ikorodu, for quicker response in the areas.

    He said the fire engines were obsolete; between 25 and 30 years old.