Nigeria’s Minister for Interior, Rauf Aregbesola, has given assurance that the challenges faced by firefighters in Nigeria during operations through mob action and vandalisation of firefighting assets would all be addressed by the creation of an armed unit to be called the Fire Police.
The Minister disclosed this at the closing of the 11th National Fire Service Conference holding in Jos, the Plateau State capital.
The 11th National Conference which has in attendance all fire service controllers from across the country is coming at a time when the country is faced with many security challenges, this perhaps formed the basis for the move by the Aregbesola for the creation of the arm-bearing unit of the fire service.
The National Comptroller of the Fire Service, Liman Ibrahim, noted that the service has a role to play in addressing national security.
Plateau State Governor, Simon, Lalong, on his part, called for more capacity building for firefighters in the country.
The five days conference with the theme Fire Service Management, an Imperative for National Security is expected to equip firefighters in Nigeria for the many security challenges facing the nation.