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….as Fire fighters respond to 2,700 emergencies
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The Lagos State Government has finally decorated Mrs. Margaret Abimbola Adeseye as the first female Director of Fire and Rescue Service in the state, just as it said that the agency responded to 2,700 distress calls from July 2019 till date.
The government also said that it has ehanced the capacity of its officials in the fire rescue agency with the employment of additional 100 fire fighters, assuring that response time to fire incidents would now be swifter and professionally handled.
The state’s Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Tayo Bamgbose-Martins, disclosed this at the passing out parade of the newly trained 100 firemen (squad 21) and the decoration of Mrs. Margaret Abimbola Adeseye as the Director, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, held at Ikeja Fire Station.
He said that the occasion was a testimony to the determination and dedication of the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to provide employment opportunities for the teeming youths of the State and also guarantee the safety of lives and property.
According to him, with the employment of 100 new firemen, the Governor has attempted not only to solve the issues of unemployment in the state, but also uplifted fire operations in the State Fire and Rescue Service.
Bamgbose-Martins who said that the newly employed officers have been given requisite training, enjoined the Fire Fighters to be dedicated and committed to the THEMES Agenda of the State government in order to guarantee the safety of lives and property.
He urged Lagosians to embrace all safety protocols that are meant to reduce needless incidents of fire outbreaks in the state, noting that it is a collective responsibility to ensure a better, safer and secured Lagos.
He said: “The current administration has invested hugely in the Agency. From the construction of a Fuel Dump that will serve the chains of Firefighting equipment, creation of additional departments and units, enhanced welfare package and improved training system.
“The administration has also helped to reposition the Fire and Rescue Service with provision of beds and beddings, ongoing renovation of all existing fire stations, reconstruction of the headquarters, expansion of the Fire Service operation, construction of additional fire stations, the extension of rescue service to the 20 Local Government Areas of Lagos State, provision of additional Fire Engines, Light Tools and Equipment, and procurement of fire trucks, in order to improve our service delivery across the State, among others.”
Bamgbose-Martins noted that the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to the Fire and Rescue Service has helped to improve emergency response time; reduce victims/ casualties/fatalities by about 59%; reduce fire and related emergency incidents by 25.24% and false calls by 77.06%. From July 2019 till date, our Fire Fighters have attended to over 2,700 distress call.
Director, Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Abimbola Adeseye, said the training and employment will bring about improvement in the response pace of Fire fighters to emergency occurrences adding: it will translate to reduction in losses on the part of the citizenry, while also helping to shore up the state’s GDP.
She assured that the new 100 Fire fighters will continue to uphold a proud service delivery to save humanity. According to her, the administration of Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu is committed to creating a conducive atmosphere for the state’s Fire fighters to operate.
“Fire Stations in the state are currently undergoing varied degrees of renovation by the government and this is aimed at enhancing their capacity to perform optimally. The resultant effect of this professional training for the fire fighters will expose them to accurate representations of Fire behaviour and best ways to tackle fires under emergency conditions.
“The Sanwo-Olu administration has established additional 3 new Fire Stations at Epe ll, Ajegunle-Apapa and Ebute Elefun, Lagos. With this, the total number of Fire Stations in the State has increased to 19. In order to sustain the current momentum in fire response, immediate approval has also been given for the construction of another 4 (Four) Fire Stations at Ijegun -Egba, Oworonshoki, Ijede and Mainland.
She thanked the Governor for paying special attention to the State’s Fire and Rescue Service through improved welfare system as well as the provision of sophisticated Fire fighting kits and equipment.
She called on residents to continue to pay their taxes so that more resources can be deployed for developmental projects in line with Mr. Governor’s THEMES Agenda.
She urged the new officers to uphold the tenets and ethics of the Fire and Rescue Service profession by dedicating themselves to the prevention of fire outbreaks as well as protection of property and lives of the good people of Lagos, noting that they have been equipped with the necessary knowledge, moral and practical skills, which will enable them compete favourably with professional colleagues in any state of the federation.
The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Dr. Omobolaji Tajudeen Gaji, urged the 100 new Fire fighters to justify the confidence repose in them by their employment into the State Public Service, following their six month rigorous Professional Basic Fire fighting training.
He said they have been exposed to both theoretical and practical skills including; physical fitness, organizational structure, discipline and evaluations.
“They are now fully baked and ready to be inculcated into the operations of Fire fighting and prevention but not after their practical Firemanship industrial attachment with the various Lagos State Fire Stations under the tutelage of experienced Firemen.”
