By Gift Olivia Samuel, The Sight News
Following the recent attacks on the offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) across the country, the Federal Fire Service on Monday, June 7, 2021 formally handed over a new fire engine to the Commission.
The INEC Chairman, Prof. Mahmood Yakubu who received the fire engine, said the Federal Fire Service offered to deploy additional state-of-the-art fire engine to the INEC headquarters to complement the two existing trucks.
He also disclosed that at the same time, the Federal Fire Service directed its State offices to take additional protective measures around other INEC facilities nationwide.
According to him, “Today’s inauguration of the new fire engine is another affirmation of the support to the Commission from the Federal Fire Service whose personnel, already deployed permanently to the Commission, will continue to operate and maintain the fire engines and other fire fighting equipment installed by INEC.
“This demonstration of support from the security agencies is coming on the eve of the resumption of the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) nationwide in the next three weeks.
“We earlier assured Nigerians that we shall conclude work on the expansion of voter access to polling units and make the new polling units available to citizens ahead of the CVR exercise. I am glad to report that we have accomplished this task for the first time in 25 years”, he said.
Yakubu further disclosed that a comprehensive list of the new polling units will be published next week, adding also that details of the locations of the registration centres and the procedure for the commencement of online registration will also be made available after a series of regular consultative meetings with stakeholders next week.
He expressed appreciation to the Federal Fire Service and all other security agencies for the renewed assurances of support.
For his part, the Controller General, Federal Fire Service, Alhaji Liman Ibrahim, said the Federal Fire Service deployed the state-of-the-art fire truck to the INEC headquarters as a fire cover for the premises and the Maitama vicinity.
He stated that the Service is taking this step as a proactive measure to protect critical infrastructures and help to protect the economy by forming a synergy with all stakeholders in protecting the environment.
He called for cooperation to help them serve the nation better, by not molesting the Service’s staff in the line of duty.
“The Federal Fire Service frowns vehemently at the molestation and vandalization of our staff and fire trucks. Safety should be everybody’s watchword”, he noted.
