News
Unemployment: Several Youths to Get Fire Fighting Jobs- FG
Unemployment: Several Youths to Get Fire Fighting Jobs- FG
By: Michael Mike
The federal government is targeting employing several youths as fire fighters to reduce the large rate of unemployment in the nation.
The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo said during the launching of new fire fighting equipment which include 16 trucks and six vehicles at the Headquarters of the Federal Fire Service in Abuja on Wednesday that what is delaying the employment is the enacted of new laws to modernize Fire Fighting in Nigeria.
He noted that when the laws are ready the number of fire fighters needed would be alighted and the need for fire fighters in every public infrastructure in the country would be stipulated, and subsequently allow for more hands to be employed.
Tunji-Ojo while noting that the number of fire fighters in a country shows the level of its development, said Nigeria cannot be among the top economies of the world and have the small population of fire fighters.
According to him, there is a direct correlation between sophistication, industrialization and fire service because the more you grow as an economy, the more you need to expand the coast of your fire service. Fire service is directly related to development in any nation.
Nigeria with just over 6,000 federal fire fighters is among the least number of employed fire fighters in the world.
The Minister said New York with 255 fire houses, Los Angeles with 160 fire stations give the picture of what fight fight and rescue operation should be, noting that US has over a million fire fighters both employed and volunteers.
He said the bill before the National Assembly if accented would change the narratives of fire fighting in the country.
He lamented that: “FFS is a sleeping giant. Your response should not only be combating fire but even forecasting danger. You must be pro-active,” he added that: “I don’t want your performance to be valued around the buildings or infrastructure you prevented from burning down, but rather preventive mechanism to rescue and prevent hazards.”
He said: “For us as a people, we cannot continue to pay lip service non-challant attitude to the issue to fire. As an individual, I believe that the FFS should be the major employer of labour in Nigeria. All we need to do is put on our thinking caps. It is time for the FFS to rise up to her responsibility which is not just about combating fire. It has to do even with forecasting dangers. We have to migrate from the era of corrective activities to the era of being proactive which will lead us to preventive measures that can save us millions of Naira.
“Your strength lies in the decline of fire outbreaks and not the number of fires you fought within a period.
“Extinguishing fires, saving lives and property, rescuing people during accidents and protecting people on the event of other emergencies remained part of your responsibilities.
“Federal Fire and Rescue Service will be expected to collect information across Nigeria and also take care of the health and safety of your personnel.
“I need to have the full range of foreseeable fires, the areas and what we have to combat them. It is very important hay this becomes your next line of action. As government agencies, we put in more efforts in solving problems rather than planning to prevent them.
The FFS must work very closely with NSCDC for security cover. I understand the issues that our FFS men are attacked when they go out on their legitimate duties but with the NSCDC providing such cover, such attacks will be reduced.
“We want your training centres not just for your officials but we want all buildings with more than 10 workers to have fire rescue and safety officers among them. Timely intervention can save lives and billions of Naira.”
The Minister noted that when the bill on fire and rescue service is assented, the FFS will play major role in our national development, insisting that: “For any country to attain it’s potentials, Fire Service cannot be relegated.”
Earlier, the Controller General, Federal Fire Service, Engineer Jaji Abdulganiyu said the fire statistics in the first and
second quarter of 2023 was a testimony of a truly re- engineered Service, noting that records at the Data Repository Centre puts fire call for the period at 1,096,
lives saved -111 successful rescues at 91 and total property saved at over N300
billion.
He assured that with the launching of the state-of-the-art firefighting trucks and
Ford Rapid Response Vehicles (RRV), incredible achievements are going to be made.
Unemployment: Several Youths to Get Fire Fighting Jobs- FG
Nigeria, Benin Share Common Destiny, Deepen Strategic Partnership – Shettima
By: Zagazola Makama
Vice-President Kashim Shettima has reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to strengthening bilateral relations with the Republic of Benin, describing both countries as partners bound by a “common destiny” rooted in history, trade and regional security.
Shettima stated this on Sunday in Cotonou during the inauguration of Benin’s President Romuald Wadagni, where he represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
The Vice-President said the Tinubu administration views the Nigeria–Benin relationship as strategic to regional integration and democratic stability in West Africa.
“Our presence here in Cotonou underlines President Tinubu’s unwavering, deep-seated commitment to strengthening ties with our neighbours,” he said.
Shettima noted that both countries share deep cultural, historical and economic ties that predate modern political boundaries, stressing that communities on both sides of the border remain closely connected.
“Our border with the Benin Republic stretches across nearly 600 kilometres, spanning six Nigerian states… We are essentially one people tied to a common destiny,” he added.
He said Nigeria and Benin must continue to work together to promote democratic governance, peace and economic prosperity within the ECOWAS sub-region.
“Because of this, we must show solidarity, empathy and active support toward strengthening democracy in West Africa,” he said.
The Vice-President disclosed that bilateral trade between both countries stands at about $2 billion annually, while an estimated five million Nigerians reside in Benin Republic.
He said both countries had strengthened cooperation in border security, trade facilitation, grassroots governance and ae development under regional integration frameworks.
Shettima recalled that Nigeria and Benin formalised a Memorandum of Understanding in August last year to enhance collaboration among border communities, local governments and traditional institutions in tackling cross-border crimes and boosting socio-economic development.
He said the arrangement had improved security coordination and commercial activities in border towns such as Seme, Igbokofi and Ilara, while enhancing opportunities for residents engaged in cross-border trade.
The Vice-President also referenced ongoing regional economic frameworks under the ECOWAS Trade Liberalisation Scheme and the Common External Tariff system, aimed at improving the business environment across member states.
He added that both countries continue to implement the ECOWAS protocol on free movement of persons, which allows citizens to stay within member states for up to 90 days without visa requirements.
According to him, these initiatives remain critical to strengthening regional integration and sustaining peace and prosperity in West Africa.
Nigeria, Benin Share Common Destiny, Deepen Strategic Partnership – Shettima
News
Troops Rescue INEC Official, Arrest Suspects After Election-Related Kidnapping Attempt in Cross River
Troops Rescue INEC Official, Arrest Suspects After Election-Related Kidnapping Attempt in Cross River
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops have rescued an official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and arrested three suspects following a reported kidnapping and disruption of election-related activities in Yakurr Local Government Area of Cross River State.
Security sources disclosed that the incident occurred at about 11:15 p.m. on May 22 when two groups of suspected kidnappers stormed the venue of ADC primary elections at Wummy Hotel, Ekori community.
According to the sources, one of the groups abducted the INEC returning officer, forced him into a vehicle, and compelled him to transfer ₦70,000 before fleeing the scene.
The second group, operating on a motorcycle, reportedly carted away ballot boxes from the venue.
Following intelligence on the incident, troops in Yakurr Local Government Area laid an ambush on the fleeing suspects, successfully intercepting the vehicle and rescuing the kidnapped INEC official.
Three suspects were arrested during the operation, while one armed suspect reportedly escaped into nearby bush with a pistol, a mobile phone, ATM card, travelling bag and other election materials.
The rescued official, arrested suspects and recovered vehicle are currently in military custody for further investigation and action.
Security forces have intensified efforts to track down the fleeing suspects and recover the stolen electoral materials.
Troops Rescue INEC Official, Arrest Suspects After Election-Related Kidnapping Attempt in Cross River
Troops Raid Suspected Cultists’ Hideout, Arrest Three in Enugu State
By: Zagazola Makama
Troops of 103 Battalion, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force, have raided a suspected cultists’ hideout in Achi town, Oji River Local Government Area of Enugu State, arresting three suspects and recovering items believed to be linked to criminal activities.
Security sources disclosed that the operation was carried out at about 4:30 a.m. on May 23 following credible intelligence on the activities of suspected cultists and other criminal elements operating in the area.
According to the sources, the troops stormed a residential building suspected to be used as a hideout by the criminal group.
During the raid, three suspects were apprehended, while items recovered include eight motorcycles and two buckets of locally made gunpowder.
The suspects and recovered items were subsequently handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for further investigation and necessary action.
Security authorities have continued to intensify joint operations in Enugu State and surrounding areas to curb cult-related activities and other forms of violent crime.
Troops Raid Suspected Cultists’ Hideout, Arrest Three in Enugu State
Nigeria, Benin Share Common Destiny, Deepen Strategic Partnership – Shettima
Troops Rescue INEC Official, Arrest Suspects After Election-Related Kidnapping Attempt in Cross River
Troops Raid Suspected Cultists’ Hideout, Arrest Three in Enugu State
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