House Rejects FG’s Plan To Allow Fire Service Personnel Carry Arms

The House of Representatives has rejected the plan by the
federal government to allow the Federal Fire Service personnel to
carry arms, saying that security agencies should deploy operatives
to accompany firefighters when on duty.

The rejection followed the adoption of a motion at plenary on
Tuesday, sponsored by Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi.

Moving the motion, Ereyitomi said the House is aware that the
Federal Fire Service is a civil outfit, not a security agency and
therefore not logical to allow personnel of the outfit to bear
firearms, as they do not require such arms to carry out their
duties.

He made reference to the announcement by the federal government
to present before the National Assembly a bill to repeal the Fire
Service Act and grant firefighters the power to bear arms to
protect the firefighters from mob attacks while carrying out their
duties and responding to emergencies.

He said the announcement has caused anxiety to the public due to
the reckless use of firearms by those who have been licensed to use
same by their position as security agents resulting in death or
grave injuries to citizens.

He opined that some mob attacks on firefighters are usually due
to frustration on the part of victims when firefighters arrive late
and ill-prepared to avert emergencies.

He expressed concerns that arming the Federal Fire Service would
add to the growing concerns about the reckless use of arms by the
Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies as doing so
would be unnecessary and insensitive to the current pensive state
of the nation.

Adopting the motion, the lawmakers urged the government to
increase the budgetary allocation of the Federal Fire Service to
ensure that adequate infrastructure is put in place for efficient
service delivery.

It also urged the NPF and the Nigerian Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC) to assign officers to the Federal Fire
Service to accompany firefighters on emergency duties.

It further mandated its Committee on Interior to liaise with the
Committee on Appropriations to ensure adequate allocation to the
Federal Fire Service in the 2022 budget and ensure proper
oversight.

The House of Representatives has rejected the plan by the
federal government to allow the Federal Fire Service personnel to
carry arms, saying that security agencies should deploy operatives
to accompany firefighters when on duty.

The rejection followed the adoption of a motion at plenary on
Tuesday, sponsored by Hon. Thomas Ereyitomi.

Moving the motion, Ereyitomi said the House is aware that the
Federal Fire Service is a civil outfit, not a security agency and
therefore not logical to allow personnel of the outfit to bear
firearms, as they do not require such arms to carry out their
duties.

He made reference to the announcement by the federal government
to present before the National Assembly a bill to repeal the Fire
Service Act and grant firefighters the power to bear arms to
protect the firefighters from mob attacks while carrying out their
duties and responding to emergencies.

He said the announcement has caused anxiety to the public due to
the reckless use of firearms by those who have been licensed to use
same by their position as security agents resulting in death or
grave injuries to citizens.

He opined that some mob attacks on firefighters are usually due
to frustration on the part of victims when firefighters arrive late
and ill-prepared to avert emergencies.

He expressed concerns that arming the Federal Fire Service would
add to the growing concerns about the reckless use of arms by the
Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and other security agencies as doing so
would be unnecessary and insensitive to the current pensive state
of the nation.

Adopting the motion, the lawmakers urged the government to
increase the budgetary allocation of the Federal Fire Service to
ensure that adequate infrastructure is put in place for efficient
service delivery.

It also urged the NPF and the Nigerian Security and Civil
Defence Corps (NSCDC) to assign officers to the Federal Fire
Service to accompany firefighters on emergency duties.

It further mandated its Committee on Interior to liaise with the
Committee on Appropriations to ensure adequate allocation to the
Federal Fire Service in the 2022 budget and ensure proper
oversight.