By Joy Salami
The Kogi State Fire and Rescue Agency, is actively seeking enhanced government support, increased manpower, and improved welfare for personnel to boost operational efficiency and safety statewide.
This is just as it has sought deeper working relationship between it and The Graphic Newspaper, with emphasises on public sensitization and reducing impact of disasters across the state.
So far, the agency has recorded zero loss of lives in recent fire outbreaks and tanker accidents across the state, the State Controller, Mrs. Rabi Sule, has disclosed.
Mrs. Rabi made the disclosure during a courtesy visit to The Graphic Newspaper, where she also appealed to the State Government for improved funding, implementation of allowances, and increased manpower to strengthen emergency response.
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She said since assuming office on May 7, 2025, the agency has responded to several major incidents, including fuel tanker accidents and residential fires, without recording any fatalities, adding that the primary function of the agency is to protect lives and property from fire disasters and other emergencies.
Despite the successes recorded, the Controller highlighted several challenges confronting the agency, including inadequate personnel and logistics. She revealed that the agency currently has just over 30 personnel, describing the number as insufficient compared to other states with hundreds of firefighters.
“We need more personnel and additional operational units at strategic locations like Zone 8 and Ganaja junction to reduce response time,” she said.
Rabi also appealed for the implementation of approved allowances, including hazard, shift, uniform, and officer-on-call allowances, noting that the agency operates under a paramilitary structure.
Our salary is the same as that of regular ministries, yet our job is high-risk. Implementation of these allowances will help retain personnel, especially drivers who play a vital role during emergencies, she said.
The Controller recounted a recent incident involving a fuel tanker loaded from Lagos that overturned on a hilly road while travelling northward.
According to her, the tanker fell upside down under intense heat, creating a high risk of explosion. The temperature was very high and it could have exploded. We responded immediately and stayed at the scene from morning till night, cooling the tanker to reduce the pressure and prevent ignition until it was safely transloaded.
She added that the agency also handled other incidents, including a residential fire near the International Market axis in Lokoja and emergencies in other parts of the state.
Rabi attributed the agency’s improved response time to the support of the state government, which provided functional fire appliances.
We thank the past and present government for making our fire engines functional. It has made our work faster and more effective, she said.
Beyond emergency response, she noted that the agency conducts routine inspections of government and private premises to ensure firefighting equipment such as extinguishers are functional.
She identified power surges and improper use of cooking gas as major causes of fire outbreaks in the state, advising residents to switch off electrical appliances when leaving home and ensure proper ventilation while cooking.
It is important to open windows when using gas and, where possible, place the gas cylinder outside the kitchen to reduce risk. While urging motorists to equip their vehicles with fire extinguishers for safety.
Rabi assured that the agency would intensify public awareness campaigns while continuing to safeguard lives and property across Kogi State.
She expressed optimism that with sustained government support and improved welfare for personnel, the agency would further strengthen its emergency response capacity.
Responding, the Managing Director of The Graphic Newspaper, Mr. Yusuf Itopa, urged the agency to increase its engagement with the media to enhance public awareness and highlight its activities.
In his words, you need to be visible in the media to enlighten the public on fire prevention and safety, he said, encouraging the agency to inform media houses during major incidents and consider radio programmes for public enlightenment.
