In view of the need to further prevent the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitate safe re-opening of tertiary institutions in the country, the Federal Fire Service has concluded arrangements to assist the Management of the Federal University of Technology, Minna in the areas of fumigation of its campuses, as well as training of its staff on fire preventive measures and safety.
This disclosure was made on Tuesday, October 27, 2020 when the Deputy Controller of the Federal Fire Service, Zonal Controller, Zone G, Minna Headquarters, Mal. Ahmed Mohammed Gana paid the Vice-Chancellor of the institution a courtesy visit at the Senate Chamber, Main Campus, Gidan Kwano.
In his address, the Deputy Controller said the visit was in furtherance of the Federal Fire Service Controller General, Dr. Liman Alhaji Ibrahim ‘s directives to all Zonal Controllers in the country to engage federal tertiary institutions under their jurisdiction in respect to safety measures, training and staff support in the areas of fire- fighting and prevention.
Equally imperative to note, the Zonal Controller stated that the Federal Fire Service has the capacity to undertake the fumigation of the University or control fire outbreak based on its state-of-the-art-equipment which consist of 7,000 to 12,000 litres of water, chemical compartment and monitor storage. He added that the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 also gave the Federal Fire Service the mandate to decontaminate and fumigate all public places in the country during the national lockdown occasioned by the outbreak of the pandemic.
Mal. Gana also attributed the success recorded by the Fire Service in recent times to the purposeful leadership provided by the Controller-General.
He informed the Vice-Chancellor that some of the Federal Fire Service staff would be posted to the University to train some of the institution’s staff in charge of fire-fighting on the latest techniques at no cost to the University.
“We want to make FUTMinna a fire-free zone in Niger State and Nigeria at large,” he stated.
He further thanked the University’s Management for the hospitality accorded to the team and looked forward to more fruitful collaborations.
Responding, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, Prof. Abdullahi Bala fsssn, stated that the visit was a reflection of the dynamism and new direction that the present Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service has brought on board in mitigating fire outbreaks in the country. He added that the University faces diverse challenges in terms of threat posed by fire outbreak based on its vast expanse of land as well as the threat posed during dry season from bush fires.
Further, he disclosed that the University has spent huge amount of money in minimizing the inherent danger of fire outbreak at both campuses.
“We have had our own taste of fire outbreak between 2013 and now. The first fire incident was at the University Library which houses the University radio station and the ultra-modern market on campus,” the Vice-Chancellor stated.
The University helmsman revealed that the institution has put in place safety measures to prevent and control fire outbreak with the procurement of high-tech fire equipment, while stating that all the buildings in the institution have fire alarm devices and overhead water tank with holes; despite the paucity of water at the Gidan Kwano Campus to combat fire outbreaks.
In addition, the don expressed appreciation to the leadership of the Federal Fire Service for offering to send their personnel to the University to train staff in the areas of fire prevention and control. He assured them that the University would do everything possible to make their staff comfortable in the University during the discharge of their duties.
Furthermore, the distinguished professor of Soil Science and Land Management stated that the support of the Federal Fire Service would further reinforce and spur the University to do more in terms of fire outbreak mitigation and safety of lives and property on campus.
Consequently, he appealed to the Fire Service Boss to assist the University in the area of fumigation of both campuses through the use of their trucks and other chemicals as the institution prepares for resumption after the enforced stoppage of activities posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
He also assured them of the University’s Management support and cooperation as they provide quality service to the society.
In attendance during the visit were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Yahaya Ahmed Iyaka; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Prof. E. E. Udensi and the Registrar, Mr. Amos Nmadu Kolo. Others include the Bursar, Mrs. Hadiza Goje; the University Librarian, Dr. Abubakar Mohammed Bitagi and other staff of the University.
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