To tackle fire challenges in Nigeria, AssetBow Nigeria limited, has called for synergy and collaboration among players in the fire sector.
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, AssetBow Nigeria limited, Virgilus Onyeka, made the call weekend in Abuja.
He pointed that such synergy and collaboration will reduce incidence of fire outbreaks and promote fire safety and disaster management in the country
Nothing that the federal government has made huge improvement in the sector, he said there is still room for improvement especially in the areas of implementation and efficient coordination.
Onyeka said that as a professional training providing organisation, AssetBow has made a number of recommendations on how to better reposition the Federal Fire Service, (FFS), as a true regulator of the sector in Nigeria.
“As you very well know, the standards vary, they are not the same and we also want what’s obtained in the international world to be obtained here by ensuring the fire service is well regulated.
“In terms of multiagency response, we want to see a properly synergized response, properly coordinated, efficient, effective and able to save lives and property. Currently, here, we are not yet in that place at the moment.
But as an organisation and with the type of expertise that we have, we have been able to point out a couple of these things to the Controller General and the fire chiefs all around the country especially during conferences, seminars and workshops that relate to the fire sector,” he adds.
He explained that as a forerunner in all the expedition and operations associated with fire explosion management, fire safety training and the professional training as well as the development of the firefighting workforce in Nigeria, AssetBow carries out response capabilities studies.
“We have been able to build up relationship with several organisations within the sector such as AssetCo, a fire brigade consultancy firm based in the United Arab Emirates, (UAE), to ensure overall efficiency.
“We are also in full collaboration with the Federal Fire Service, and we have done quite a number of projects for the federal fire service such as the National Fire Academy professional training props, professional training for the firefighters.
On the attack of firemen by citizens during rescue operations, the MD/CEO said “the citizenry of this country are not well educated as to how the fire service operates and I think it’s a matte of reorientation of the populace.
They need to let the populace know exactly why they could get to a fire scene and do nothing. No two fire incidents are exactly alike, and there different items you use to fight different fire material,” he pointed.
He also called for proper coordination of intelligence response for more lives and property to be saved.