By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
Fire Service Directors across Nigeria are currently in Bauchi State, holding their 4th Annual Conference.
Declaring the 3 days conference open on Tuesday at the banquet of the Government House Bauchi, the State Governor Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed appealed to participants to impart the knowledge they will gain during the conference to their subordinates when they get to their various places of work.”
Governor Bala Mohammed urged the participants to use the conference to enhance proficiency in the discharge of their duties as fire fighters by collectively working towards a fire-safe Nigeria so as to prevent fire outbreak, protect lives, and promote a culture of fire safety awareness.
The Governor, who was represented by his Deputy, Rt. Hon. Mohammed Auwal Jatau, said that the administration has created an enabling environment for advance training for fire fighting officers and men at the headquarters of the State Fire Service Directorate to enable it discharge its duties effectively and efficiently.
“The need to prevent and fight fire out break and other emergencies that require the service of Fire fighters cannot be overemphasized. Therefore there is a need to strengthen the capacity of our fire fighters and boost their morale for the effective and efficient discharge of their duties”, the Governor said.
Earlier in her remarks, the Bauchi State Commissioner for Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Honorable Hajara Yakubu Wanka expressed her gratitude to Governor Bala Mohammed for hosting the event and his continued support for initiatives that brings succour and ease of life to people of Bauchi and beyond.
The Commissioner described the Conference of the Fire Service Directors/Chiefs is an important platform for strengthening of collective resilience against disasters.
She applauded the Fire Service for its relentless efforts—evidenced by improved response times, community sensitization programs, and the adoption of modern firefighting technologies in Bauchi State and across the Nation
The Commissioner disclosed that the Ministry had recently started collaboration with all relevant fire service stakeholders in the state aimed at entrenching sustainable fire safety and emergency response in Bauchi State.
“I want to emphasise that fire prevention is a humanitarian action. Each averted disaster preserves families, economies, and futures. We must integrate fire safety into broader disaster risk reduction strategies, ensuring synergy with NEMA, SEMA, and community-based structure.
“To our fire service heroes—your courage inspires us all. May this conference renew our collective determination to protect our nation”, Said Commissioner Wanka.
On her part, the chairperson, Association of States Fire Service Chiefs and Directors, Mrs Margaret A. Adeseye explained that the annual national conference of the Fire Service Chiefs and Directors was aimed at improving efficiency and effectiveness of the operatives, both at the federal and state levels through sharing of experience and knowledge.
She also described the Bauchi Conference as the best so far, in the series of conferences held.
The opening ceremony also featured an Award Presentation to some notable personalities that included the State Governor, Senator Bala Mohammed.