Lagos State government on Thursday, said that it has increased the manpower of its officials in its 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.
Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Engr. 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 had 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 was a collective responsibility to ensure a better, safer and secured Lagos.
He thanked the Sanwo-Olu administration for the interest in Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.
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 had helped to improve emergency response time; reduced victims/ casualties/fatalities by about 59%; reduced fire and related emergency incidents by 25.24% and false calls by 77.06%.
He said from July 2019 till date, the fire fighters had attended to over 2,700 distress call.
The Permanent Secretary, Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Dr. Omobolaji Tajudeen Gaji, urged the 100 new fire fighters to justify the confidence reposed in them by their employment into the State Public Service, following their six month rigorous professional basic fire fighting training.
He said they had been exposed to both theoretical and practical skills including; physical fitness, organisational 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.”
He congratulated them on the successful completion of their training, urging them to look nowhere else for a greener pasture but rededicate themselves to the illustrious fire fighting career.
He said the state government was putting every measure in place to make their work experience worthwhile.
He also congratulated the newly decorated director and urged her to conquer and work hard.
Director, Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Abimbola Adeseye, said the training and employment would 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 would continue to uphold a proud service delivery to save humanity.
