5 Functions of Nigeria Fire Service
Here in this post, we are going to bring to you 5 functions of the Nigeria fire service. we hope you find this information useful.
The Nigeria Fire Service was established during the British colonial regime. The fire service was established as a department within the Lagos Police Service Unit for the purpose of preventing and as well combating any fire outbreak within the government reserved area at the Lagos colony.
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Live, Study and Work in Canada. No Payment is Required! Hurry Now click here to Apply >> Immigrate to CanadaThe Nigeria Fire Service was established and as well, incorporated together with the Lagos Police then, which was known and called the Lagos Police Fire Brigade.
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This time, the Police Fire Brigade was known and considered an apparatus of the British Colonial Government then. The leadership and the administration of the Police Fire Brigade were actually rested directly on the colonists.
The purpose of the establishment of the Police Fire Brigade was essentially for the protection of the colonial regime’s interests and its infrastructure.
This purpose, however, defined the purpose to which, the Police Fire Brigade was established. It was until 1963, when the Lagos Police Fire Brigade become the Nigeria Fire Service through an Act of Parliament, which was called the Fire Service Act of that year, 1963.
Every officer, working then in the Lagos Police Fire Brigade was transferred to the Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Internal Affairs, who was later reabsorbed into the Nigeria Fire Service as an officer.
That is why the Nigeria Fire Service is known today as a paramilitary institution, and the Nigeria Fire Service directly under the supervision of the Minister in charge of the federal ministry of interior.
The Nigeria Fire Service has a Control General as the head of the paramilitary organization. Having said that let us together look at some of the functions of the Nigeria Fire Service.
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What Are The Functions Of The Nigeria Fire Service?
I have mentioned in the beginning that, the Nigeria Fire Service was a formation of the British colonial regime., and was formed practically for the purpose of protecting government reserved area, then in Lagos, in case of an outbreak of problem.
But outside the preventing and combating any outbreak within the government reserved area, the British Police Fire Brigade, which was then called, was later changed to Nigeria Fire Service by an Act of Parliament, and was assigned too numerous functions to actualize the purpose for which, it was formed.
The Nigeria Fire Service was expected to concentrate on firefighting, and the Act has spelt out what was expected from the Nigeria Fire Service.
From this time on, the functions of the Nigeria Fire Service has been changed a great deal. Below are some of the functions of the Nigeria Fire Service:
1. Nigeria Fire Service Promotes Fire Safety
The primary function of the Nigeria Fire Service was to focus on combating and fighting fires. The Nigeria Fire Service involved in the process of promoting fire safety within and across Nigeria.
In the course of promoting fire safety, the Nigeria Fire Service was expected to make preparation so as to confidently fight fires.
Undergoing such preparation will fortify the Nigeria Fire Service to confidently fight fires, and as well, protects the Nigerian citizens, and the Nigerian residents and their properties, and their buildings from fire outbreaks.
This function among several other functions of the Nigeria Fire Service clearly defines the primary function of the Nigeria Fire service, when its roles and functions were somehow changed by an Act of Parliament in 1963.
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2. Rescues Persons From Road Traffic Accidents
This is another function of the Nigeria Fire Service. The Act of the Parliament that established the Nigeria Fire Service has empowered the Nigeria Fire Service to rescue persons, who may involve in road traffic accidents. Although there are other agencies in the country, whose statutory functions have been to rescuing persons involving in road accidents, giving them first aid, and possibly conveying them to the nearby health service centre, nonetheless, the Nigeria Fire Service as part of functions assigned to it, also has a responsibility to assist in this area of rescuing persons involved in road traffic accidents.
3. Deals With Other Specific Emergencies, Like Flood, Terrorists Attack Etc.
The Nigeria Fire Service has also served the Nigerian public in this direction. Our modern society is vulnerable to some disasters, some caused by human, and others caused by nature.
Whatever may be the case, the Nigeria Fire Service is saddling with the responsibility of dealing with any emergency, be it flooding or be it terrorists attack or any specific emergency.
This function on the part of the Nigeria Fire Service is spelt out by the Fire Service’s statutory order, although it can, however, be amended in accordance as to how the functions of the Nigeria Fire Service may change in the nearest future.
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4. Nigeria Fire Service Does Other Things Not Specifically Spelled Out In Its Act
The Nigeria Fire Service can carry out some functions that are not specifically spelt out by an Act that established it. Take, for example, the Nigeria Fire Service functions revolved around fighting of fires and rescuing of persons involved in road traffic accidents. Nevertheless, the Nigeria Fire Service can involve in other activities with a view to serving a particular need of the people or community’s needs, and/or respond to some other risk the people may face.
Going by the above argument, the Act has empowered the Nigeria Fire Service to make sure that, as fire and rescue agency, it can do other things that are not specifically spelt out by an Act that established it, provided such intervention exercise helps in meeting the statutory functions of the Nigeria Fire Service.
5. Gives Authorities Powers To Prepare For Risks To Life And Risks To Environment
This is likely going to be the last function of the Nigeria Fire Service, I am explaining in this article. The Nigeria Fire Service has a function of giving authorities powers for the purpose of making them properly prepare ahead of risks to life and risks to the environment.
Take, for instance, the Nigeria Fire Service can purchase equipment, and train its staff on how to operate that equipment.
The Nigeria Fire Service can as well, deploy its members to carry out some functions that they think may pose some risks to lives and the environment in whatever area they wish.
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Conclusion
The Nigeria Fire Service was established to concentrate on firefighting, and the Act has spelt out what was expected from the Nigeria Fire Service, which I have discussed in this article.
