By Danzumi Ishaku, Jalingo.
The Taraba State Governor Darius Dickson Ishaku has pledged to support the Federal Fire Service to be effective in combating fire disaster.
The Governor stated this when Minister of Interior Rauf Aragbeshola paid him a courtesy visit on Tuesday in his office at Government House Jalingo.
Ishaku said his administration has overhaul the system of fire fighting by ensuring training, discipline and safety of the fire fighters.
Governor Ishaku further promised to provide land for the Nigerian Correctional Service and appealed to the Minister of Interior to include construction of a befitting office and other correctional facility for the State.
The Governor appreciated President Mohammadu Buhari for deploying a Ultra Modern fire fighting truck to the State and the Minister of Interior Professor Rauf Aragbesola for positioning the Fire Service on the front burner.
Commenting, the Minister of Interior Professor Rauf Aragbesola said the Fire Service only in the Second quarter of this year received 638 distressed calls that took the lives of 37 persons with destruction of property worth three point seven billion naira.
Aragbesola, disclosed that in the said intervention of the Federal Fire Service 166 lives were saved, eighty two persons injured with fifteen point one trillion property saved.
The Minister called on Governor Darius Ishaku to establish a robust fire service to save lives and property.
He warned against the molestation of Men of the Fire Service in the discharge of their responsibility saying the Federal Government cannot longer condoned such act and would go hard on any one that misbehaved.
Aragbesola, called on the Citizens to prevent fire disaster beginning from the designs of buildings.
On his part, the number one fire fighter, the Controller of the Nigeria Federal Fire Service Liman Ibrahim thanked the Federal Government for deploying a Modern Fire fighting truck to strengthen safety and protection of the people.
The number one fire fighter requested for utility vehicles, training of Staff and inclusion of the fire Service into the State Security Council.
High point of the Visit was the inauguration of the Ultra Modern fire fighting truck by Governor Darius Ishaku.
The Minister later visited the new Taraba Marshall Office a security outfit established by Governor Darius Ishaku before departing the State.
