The Controller General, Federal Fire Service, Ibrahim Liman, has solicited the support of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the training of divers, para-medics and its officers for effective disaster response in the country.
Liman made the appeal when he led a delegation from the service on a courtesy visit to the director-general, NEMA, in Abuja.
He said that one of the challenge faced by the service both at the federal and state level was training and retaining.
He added that the service had however been able to establish Federal Fire Service training school in each of the six geo-political zones.
“We have been collaborating, but we need to look inward more on areas that have not been explored and we need to explore them so that we can give better services to Nigerians.
“We have to collaborate with you in so many ways in terms of training and retraining because our success is your success.
“If we fail, we will not be able to explain to the public, but if we succeed, we will be happy to even address the press, so we have to work hand in hand with each other.
“We need to have simulation exercise, it is very important because there are so many stakeholders in disaster management.
“We need to know each other, visit our offices, inspect our equipment and know the equipment we have so that when there is disaster, we all know what we are bringing and if possible as the father of all, you can intervene and donate equipment.
“I am requesting that you kindly assist us in training and retraining of our divers and paramedics,” he said.
He, however, appreciated President Muhammadu Buhari for changing the plight of the service with workable equipment since he assumed office in 2015.
“The Federal Fire Service has its presence in the 36 states capital of the federation and the FCT, we have 106 modern fire fighting vehicles in Nigeria.
“We have eight rapid intervention and we just distributed 20 ambulances of basic life support to our zonal headquarters,” he said.
Mr Ahmed Habib, Director-General, NEMA, appreciated the Controller- General and his team for their visit.
Habib, who commended the service for their prompt response in the recent tanker explosions in Lagos, promised the agency’s readiness to have a good working relationship with the service.
“I assure you fully that we will collaborate on trainings, as well as training for divers, I give you my word on that.
“We are one family and I promise you a good working relationship,” he said,” he said.
