Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, Minister of Interior, has urged the National Defence College in Abuja to include senior officers from the Federal Fire Service FFS in its training program.
According to the minister’s media adviser, Sola Fasure, Aregbesola gave the charge while receiving the management of the College on Friday in Abuja.
“Could you please include officers from the Federal Fire Service FFS in your training?” They play an important role in protecting people and property.
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Though we haven’t yet experienced massive wildfires like those seen in the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and Turkey, among other places, the effects of climate change are beginning to catch up with us.
We must prepare our officers for the upcoming task. Only a fool would wait to learn from his own experience rather than from the experiences of others.
Let us work together to train and build the capacity of our officers to not only physically fight wildfires, but also to have the managerial know-how on resource management and effective collaboration with other security agencies, such as the Nigeria Air Force, which has the capacity – if well equipped – to fight fire with water and suppressant through aerial bombardment,” the Minister said.
The interior minister also urged the country’s security agencies to cooperate and work together to promote peace and ensure adequate security for all Nigerians.
“I acknowledge the Nigerian Armed Forces’ role in promoting peace and ensuring adequate security for all Nigerians.”
However, we must ensure that all security agencies in the country, including all branches of the Nigerian military, the Nigeria Police Force, and other paramilitary security agencies, cooperate and see themselves as one in order to avoid inter-agency rivalry.
“I salute your professionalism and excellence in the discharge of your duties to the nation and keeping Nigeria one,” the minister said.
The Minister promised to be available as a resource person for the college whenever he is needed.
“As per your request, please contact my office; whenever you need me to serve as a resource person, I will make myself available.”
Earlier, Rear Admiral Muritala Bashir, Commandant of the National Defence College, stated that the courtesy visit was necessitated by the need to collaborate with the Ministry of Interior, especially given that it supervises critical paramilitary agencies in Nigeria.
“We acknowledge and recognize the good work that the Ministry you lead and the agencies that report to you have done in securing the country.”
“I took over the office three weeks ago, and I knew right away that your ministry was one of the most important in which I needed to engage and brief on our activities.”
Our goal is to prepare senior officers for operational and strategic leadership in their respective government agencies.
“At the moment, we have three officers selected from the Nigerian Correctional Service, Nigerian Police Service, and Nigerian Immigration Service, and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, among the over 200 participants chosen from 16 countries for Course 30,” Rear Admiral Bashir said.
In his welcome address, Dr. Shuaibu Belgore, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, assured the delegation of the ministry’s cooperation in achieving its goals and objectives.
Others in attendance included Air Vice Marshal BLP Keenam, Brig. General EF Oyinlola, Commander CF Umar, Lt. Commander LY Maitama, Sub. Lt. SA Shuwa, ministry directors, and representatives of the ministry’s paramilitary agencies, among others.
