11th June, 2023
By Kelechi Ogunleye
The Federal Fire Service (FFS) says it has saved 2,322 lives and property worth N25.741 trillion in fire outbreaks from 2015 till March 2023.
This is contained in a National Fire Statistics signed by the Spokesman of the Service, Mr Paul Abraham, on Sunday in Abuja.
A breakdown of the figures showed that the Service received 12,471 fire calls within the period under review.
It showed that the Service recorded 3,555 fire calls in 2020; followed by 2022 with 2,860 and 2,845 in 2021 while 713 fire calls received between January and March, 2023.
“A total of 698 fire calls recorded in 2019; 531 in 2015; 478 in 2018 and 400 in 2017 while 391 calls received in 2016,” it said.
The fact sheet showed that more lives were saved between 2019 and 2022 compared to the minimal number between 2015 and 2018.
“The year 2020 had the highest number of 1,100 lives rescued, followed by 2021 with 587; 418 in 2022; 99 in 2019 and 55 in 2015 while 9 persons rescued in 2018; three in 2016 and two in 2017. Forty-nine persons were rescued from January to March 2023,” The FFS said.
It added that the Service saved N18,996.47 trillion worth of property in 2021; N2,844.24 trillion in 2018; N1.35 trillion in 2020 and N1,181.99 trillion in 2019, respectively.
“The Service saved N593.9 billion in 2020; N426.5 billion in 2017; N273.12 billion in 2015 and N57.5 billion in 2016 while N16.1 billion saved from January to March 2023, respectively”.
The FFS also procured and distributed 106 modern fire fighting trucks; 15 dual purpose water tenders, 15 rapid intervention fire engines, 20 ambulances and one hydraulic platform to zonal commands within the period under review.
It indicated that the hydraulic platform was deployed to Lagos while contracts had been awarded for refurbishment of 44 state-of-the-art fire fighting trucks.
The Service had recruited 2,500 officers and men to enhance its capacity and foster work delivery.
“The increase in lives saved from 2019 till date could be attributed to the procurement of additional firefighting trucks and recruitment of personnel,” it said.