The Taraba State Government, in collaboration with the Federal Fire Service, has commenced the recruitment and training of personnel to curb recurring fire outbreaks in the state and enhance the safety of residents.
The initiative follows repeated fire disasters across the state and the challenges associated with responding effectively to them.
In a bid to address the situation, Governor Agbu Kefas approved the procurement of firefighting equipment and the training of personnel to operate and manage the facilities.
A total of 200 individuals drawn from the 16 local government areas of Taraba State are expected to undergo training in Lagos State, with fire service offices to be established across the councils.
Speaking to journalists during the documentation and screening exercise, the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Secretary to the Taraba State Government, Abdulkadir Haruna, said the move became necessary to protect lives and property and prevent investments from being destroyed by fire incidents.
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“We have been experiencing fire incidents across the state, and the governor is keen to ensure that these disasters are brought under control. To achieve this, he constituted a committee to investigate the causes of fire outbreaks in the state,” he said.
“The committee submitted its report, and based on its recommendations, the governor purchased firefighting equipment. However, there is a need for trained personnel to operate the equipment, hence the recruitment exercise.”
“The state government has already purchased firefighting machines for all the local government areas, including the airport, and the people you are seeing here are those who will operate the equipment.”
“After the screening, they will be taken to Lagos for the main training. Upon completion, they will return to manage the equipment and ensure that fire outbreaks become a thing of the past in the state.”
“We are projecting about 320 applicants for this training, and at the end of the exercise, the qualified candidates will be taken to Lagos for proper training.”
“This is the first batch, and a total of 200 people are expected to emerge from the 320 applicants currently undergoing screening.”
The Project Manager of Nigerbird Engineering, a consulting firm working with the Federal Fire Service, Victor Fidi, said the exercise had commenced under the administration of Governor Agbu Kefas.
“About 14 local government areas do not have fire service offices, and the governor has agreed to establish them. These personnel, when trained, will man the offices,” he said.
“They will spend five weeks in Lagos undergoing rigorous training. After that, I can assure you that Taraba State will have capable fire service teams ready to protect residents and respond effectively to recurring fire incidents.”
