Dr. Olubumi Tunji-Ojo the Honourable Minister of Interior have kicked started practical collaboration with state government in creating sustainable employment for the youth as measure to enhance fire safety in Nigeria and boost whole society approach to national security.

Recall that he stated that “I will turn fire service to a major employer of labour in Nigeria ” during the commissioning of Fire truck at the Headquarters of Federal Fire service in Abuja 2023.

From the stakeholders conference held in Benue state , over 2856 youth have been employed as Fire Ad-hoc staffs form each electorial ward , while over 46 have been selected , trained by Benue State Fire service and empowered with tool as well as start up resources by the NFEC concessnair Messer 2Toc solutions Ltd.

The stakeholders engagement includes Federal Fire Service , Benue State Fire service,FRSC , NPF,NSCDC, DSS,VIO, all transport unions and association.

The stakeholders engagement was organized to highlight roles and responsibilities of each agencies in the Operation compulsory Fire Extinguisher servicing (OCFES) which is designed to commence with the transport sector before the full enforcement in Benue State .

Our sources confirmed that the Minister had contacted all state Governor and conveyed Federal Executive Council approval on the concession of Enterprise unit of National Fire Data Repository Center. Which is aimed at ensuring the total elimination of illegal fire extinguisher service vendors at state and grassroot and boosting domestication of manufacturing of fire extinguisher in Nigeria to reduce indiscriminate importation, distribution as well as use of Fire Extinguisher cylinder for manufacturing of IED, drug trafficking, small arm proliferation , etc .

This efforts by the Honourable Minister is confirmed to be gaining the acceptance of stakeholders across the 36 states and FCT and shall soon lead to he creation of over 150,000 sustainable and career enable employment opportunities.

For his part, the Governor of Benue state, Hyacinth Alia who set the record of been the first governor to key into the project thereby creating job for about ten thousand Benue youths spoke about the benefit of the program in his state,

“It will control situation in which fire extinguisher fail at point of usage. Enable arrest and prosecution of fake and wicked servicing vendors who fill fire extinguisher cylinder with casava flour which increases fire instead of quenching it at most critical point of usage.

“Another rebirth and retooling of our state fire service to effectively deliver its mandate of fire prevention, response and investigation.

“The repositioning will boost our performance in the committees of agencies and deepening public participation in the the state security and public safety.”