The House of Representatives has urged Federal Government to provide adequate funds to enable the Federal Fire Service extend its services in the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.
This was sequel to a motion unanimously adopted by the house on Wednesday during plenary.
The mover of the motion Rep. Joseph E. Edionwele (Edo-PDP) said it has become imperative for the federal government to act spontaneously due to fire incidences in the country.
He said that the Federal Fire Service Act created a fire service for the nation but its structure and operational modalities had rendered it incapable of making its impact felt throughout the country.
According to him, the fire services are being enjoyed by areas within the city centres and the Federal Capital Territory.
Edionwele said it had made many communities in the Local Government Areas unprotected because of the distance from state capitals where these fire service offices are situated.
The lawmaker said many of such communities had suffered colossal losses due to fire outbreaks and have continued to live under the threat of fire outbreaks without hope of reprieve.
Whilst speaking to the press after plenary Rep. Edionwele also faulted government for making the fire service unattractive for the private sector to venture in.
In his argument, Rep. Dolapo Baduru (Lagos-APC) said the fire service is on both the concurrent and exclusive list.
Olawale said in as much as the house was concern about the safety of Nigerians, establishing fire stations in every LGA was quite ambitious.
He explained that it would be more beneficial and cost effective to promote synergy between the State and Federal Fire Services than establishing new ones.
According to Baduru, "it will cost the government 5million naira at most to establish a fire station in each local government".
"We need infrastructure, personnel and equipments because without the basic structure like the fire hydrants there is little or nothing the fire fighters can achieve", he stated.
Rep. Abdulrazak Namdas (Adamawa-APC) said it would not amount to waste to establish fire station across all LGAs in the country.
According to him, the livelihood of rural people are constantly being destroyed by fire outbreaks that could be controlled.
The lawmakers argued that lack of water, access roads and other fundamental facilities could pose challenges to the establishment of the fire stations.
In his ruling, the Speaker of the House, Mr Yakubu Dugara mandated the Committee on Interior to ensure implementation.
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