Our fire fighting Mimi trucks will navigate crowded terrains —FFS boss

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji, has said that the newly procured 15 rapid firefighting mini trucks by the service has the capacity to navigate crowded terrains.

The CG stated this on Thursday in Abuja when the new Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, Dr Oluwatoyin Akinlade paid a maiden visit to the Service’s headquarters.

He said the service can now boast of going to places which were previously inaccessible to the larger firefighting appliances.

He said that the ministry recently commissioned Nigeria’s first Metropolitan Fire Station located in Kubwa, Abuja.

He further said 12 other Metropolitan Fire Stations are at various stages of completion.

Speaking further on the achievements of the service, the CGF said the service recently completed and commissioned the first Fire House props in West Africa located inside the National Fire Academy Sheda.

“Procurement of 15 Ford Built Rapid Intervention Vehicles, already delivered to the Service awaiting commissioning and deployment.

“Approval of Mr President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to include the Service Rapid Intervention Vehicle in his motorcade. This is the first in the history of Nigeria.

“Other firsts include celebration of the International Firefighter’s day

“Approval of a large expanse of land for the building of the Service National Headquarters in Sauka, Abuja, FCT”.

Responding, the permanent secretary called on State Governments to assist the service in carrying out its duties.

She harped on the need for training and retraining of officers to make them more equipped.

“Your mandate is very important to Nigeria as a whole. I don’t know of anything more frightening by fire. It is destructive and quick to do so but yet when you are called, you move in immediately. Therefore, I say well done.

It is therefore important that citizens of Nigeria know and are assured that fire will not ravage them. But peradventure there is a fire outbreak, that the FFS will be able to put out the fire before lives and property are lost.

“Building codes are not usually obeyed and when there is fire, big trucks cannot go through. So these mini trucks can go through such areas but 15 are not enough. That cannot even serve the FCT alone. We need more. Therefore, funding, housing, training and everything that can build up the morale of firemen have to be taken into account.”

EU-SDGN advocates inclusive government, calls for appointment of PWDs in public offices

The European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) has called for an inclusive government and appointment of persons with disabilities into key positions in the country.

Members of the EU-SDGN said this in a statement on Thursday in Abuja at the end of the ‘Able to Serve” event.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that EU-SDGN is an European Union funded programme, aimed at reinforcing democracy in Nigeria through six component areas.

The areas included support to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), support to the National Assembly, judiciary and political parties.

Others were support to media, support to women, youth and persons with disabilities and support to Civil Society Organizations (CSOs).

Mr Jake Epelle, Chief Executive Officer, TAF Africa, and implementing partner for EU-SDGN said there was need for Nigeria, especially the current administration, to hear the voicess of PWDs that they were qualified for any and every appointive office.

“The President Bola Ahmed Tinubu should take the bull by the horns and appoint persons with disabilities as Ministers.

“Let him take pride in being the first President to do that; Elected Governors across the sub-national should also appoint persons with disabilities as Commissioners.

“We are grateful that in the past, we have been appointed Special Advisers and some other Heads of Establishments, especially establishments for PWDs , but we need to go a notch higher. Who says we cannot be Ministers?,” he said.

Epelle called on governments at all levels to appoint a person with disability as Minister.

“Hold me responsible and we will make sure that, that person will perform. We may be disabled in our physical body, but we have the ability in our brain.

“If you take us out of governance, then what you’re going to run is an exclusive government, and an exclusive government is not a government of national unity,” he said.

Epelle said that if Nigeria truly want to run a government of national unity, then that government should be inclusive of all, irrespective of their gender, status and religion.

He said that whatever needed to be done so that everyone would sit on the table would be the way forward.

Epelle said that PWDs were very prepared to serve.

According to him, they are PhD and Master’s degree holders, but it’s not just about the degree but because of their preparation for leadership.

“We have the right people that will make us proud. Just give us the opportunity, that is what we are asking for. When you pursue true inclusion, it eliminates cultural stereotypes.

“Service is not written on anybody’s face. Give everybody that is qualified the chance to serve. Don’t give us a Minister because we are PWDs.

“Give us a Minister because we have the ability to run that office, make a difference and be part of nation building,” he said.

Ms Auta Lois, Founder, Network of Women with Disabilities, said there was need to remind policy makers and decision makers, traditional leaders, clergy, student groups, civil society organizations, media institutions, and other stakeholders that PWDs have the right to be appointed and elected into a public office.

NAN

U.S Institute mulls collaboration on peace building, trains community members

US Institute of Peace (USIP),has advocated collaborative effort towards peace building in Nigeria and equipping community members in conflict states with mediation and dialogue skills.

Dr Chris Kwaja, Interim USIP Country Director Nigeria, made this known at the Network of Nigerian Facilitators workshop themed: “Reflections and Prospects for the Future” on Thursday in Abuja”.

According to Kwaja, USIP works across the world, both with government and non governmental actors in ensuring a peaceful world, supporting conflict states by training men and women with peace building skills specifically for mediation and dialogue .

He said that USIP has worked in over 11 states in Nigeria including Kano ,Rivers ,Kaduna Plateau ,Benue ,Adamawa ,Imo ,Katsina ,Borno,Nasarawa ,Yobe among others.

” Here in Nigeria, we are involved in peace related advocacy; we support local level actors who are involved in mediation and dialogue; we support governmental institutions that are committed to working for peace.

“We are involved in the governance space, because you have a government that is committed to a peaceful society.

”Then people will be able to benefit from the dividends of democracy which has to do with the rule of law, participation of citizens, diversity, equity and inclusion.

” This is because these are some of the key drivers of disenchantment and discontent in our society, these are some of the issues we advocate for, support and pursue across the world working with research centres, civic groups at the community level.

” We build their capacities in the area of mediation and dialogue and they have been quite active in supporting our communities to identify commonalities around this whole notion of shared humanity.”

Kwaja said that the first responsibility of every government in a diverse society as Nigeria, was that the leadership must be committed to the management of diversity.

He said that the government should be true to the oath of office with a conscious effort to ensure allocation of resources is done in a way that shows equity , fairness and justice among all individuals and groups.