As the world celebrates International Fire Fighters Day, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria FAAN, has pledged to enhance the performance of its fire officers with the procurement of more facilities and with the needed training.
To this end, the Authority is set to procure 20 new fire tenders in addition to the existing 90 and to refurbish all its fire stations in all airports.
Speaking at this year’s International Fire Fighters Day in Lagos tagged Heroes Remembrance Ceremony/Parade, the Managing Director FAAN, Capt. Rabiu Yadudu said, Management is committed to providing all the equipment needed to handle emergencies.
He said, currently there are three major procurement in terms of fire tender refurbishment plan, procurement of new ones about 20 and refurbishment of all fire stations across he country to enable the officers of the Airport, Rescue and Fire Fighters Services discharge of their duties creditably.
“We have over 90 and we are trying to procure at least 20 more that is the plan now because some are aged, some are due for refurbishment, so the news one we replace the ones that we feel that we are going to phase out”.
“We are doing this in order to make sure that in the event of emergence, we do not stand in need of anything that is missing because they are our primary emergence response team”.
Capt. Yadudu stated that, the fire stations refurbishment will be carried out two or three at a time, adding that training is also on the priority list of the Management.
“Two months ago we commissioned the Abuja training ground even though the Federal Government procured a major equipment in Zaria, which is ours entirely for FAAN to use, this what we are doing and we are doing more”.
On the fire simulator, Capt. Yadudu said, ” the simulator is here for all of us to benefit from, the fire people from FAAN and aviation industry in general, we tend to be more and more aware of it and be appreciative of the initiative and equipment, it is essentially for the benefit of the whole industry”.
He added, ” In the event of emergence, we need the fire fighters to come out and perform before the emergency, we need them to be in top sharp, we need them to be competent, we need them to be fully aware of their responsibility and trained, so that training aspect is what comes up when you are talking about the simulator. We do recurrence at intervals before now, we used to do it outside the country, neighboring countries like Cameroon and FG decided lets work together and bring the equipment home”.
The FAAN boss, called on all officers to be focused and committed to their duties and never allow challenges to weaken their resolve in putting in their best on the job, adding that challenges should not be used as an excuse as this would urgur well for the individual’s progress and that of the organization.
“Remain focused, remain committed, this ecosystem will keep working whether MD is here or not, it is a national heritage, national economic asset”.
” Remain dedicated, work hard, if you succumb to challenges, you will make it very easy for your life to be compromised”.
The MD explained that the international Fire Fighters Day, is to remember the courageous men and women of the ARFFS who have risked their lives in saving and protecting others, he salute their sacrifices and urged them not to relent in the discharge of their duties.
He condole the families of fire officers who died recently and pray God to grant them the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss, adding that the agency and the department have reached out to the respective families through condolence letters and visits.
High point of the celebration was the laying of wreaths in remembance of late fire officers by the FAAN MD and other Directors present at the event.
The celebration was spiced up with music from the FAAN band.
