The federal government will be procuring aircraft in the six zonal bases of the Federal Fire Service to combat wildfires, bushfires and other largescale fires requiring aerial attacks.

The announcement was made by the Minister of Interior, Rauf Aregbesola.

The minister said this at the decoration ceremony of the new Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Jaji Olola Abdulganiyu, in Abuja.

Aregbesola who noted that the prime challenge of the FFS is on combating wildfires, bushfires and other largescale fires requiring aerial attacks, also revealed that armed security personnel would be accompanying firefighters to fire scenes to prevent attacks on personnel and equipment by hoodlums.

He said; “We have initiated an arrangement with the Nigeria Airforce to use their planes to waterbomb fires of that nature from the air. It is my sincere hope that you will see this through.

“Our projection is to have our own aircraft in the six zonal bases.”

The minister urged CG Abdulganiyu to take fire advocacy seriously as he begin his tenure as the CG of the FFS. He also added that the public need to know more about firefighting and managing emergencies.

Aregbesola said; “It is very necessary that you include fire advocacy and public enlightenment in the operational services of the FFS. The public needs to know, among others, that the work of the FFS is more than firefighting.

“The welfare and professional development of the officers and men under your command should therefore be put on the front burner.

“Their emoluments, allowances, promotion, training at home and abroad and other perks should not suffer.”