From: Romanus Ugwu, Abuja
The Federal Fire Service (FFS), on Thursday, stated that it would soon take delivery of the about N4.6 billion worth of fire fighting appliances, blaming FOREX crisis for the delay in the arrival of the equipment.
The FFS Controller-General, Engr. Joseph Garba Anebi, who made the disclosure while addressing a press conference to set the record on his agency’s 2016 budget performance, in Abuja, said that procurement of new fire fighting truck, maintenance and refurbishment of the old appliances, procurement of office furniture and completion of ongoing projects at National Fire Academy (NFA) were the major good things that have happened to the the service in recent times.
Speaking further, Anebi noted that though his organisation wanted about 45 appliances, it was however reduced to 35 because of the depreciation in the Naira, adding that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) later approved only 23 of them.
According to him; “The Naira depreciation against the Dollars affected the original number proposed to be procured, nevertheless, we are on course as we are awaiting the arrival of the new fire fighting engines from the manufacturers overseas.
“As we may like to know, firefighting trucks are never on the show-room products but based on the specification and placement of order. The expected fire trucks will soon arrive the country and some of them will be deployed to FFS zonal commands to compliment the state fire services,” he said.
While disclosing that the N4.6 billion worth of equipment will ease the operations of the Service, Anebi, however, asured that his leadership is committed to delivering a credible services to the Nigerian public at all times.