The Lagos State Government has taken delivery of 32 American fire-fighting vehicles which were procured with a loan from the Import-Export Bank (Ex-Im Bank) of the United States.

The board of the Ex-Im Bank had authorised a $15.7 million direct loan to the state government of Lagos, last year, to underwrite the purchase of the 32 American fire-fighting vehicles manufactured by W.S. Darley & Co. (Darley) of Itasca, Ill. Maintenance and training of firemenalso come along with the deal.

“Additionally, the financing , which targets one of our nine key markets, ensures the government of Lagos can respond efficiently and effectively to emergency situations,” an Ex-Im official had said , at the approval of the loan.

Handing over the vehicles to the Lagos State Fire and Safety Services yesterday, Governor Fashola said the undertaking was part of efforts to further mitigate huge losses arising from fire outbreaks in Lagos, and that the state government is planning to establish a fire academy where fire service men and youths interested in the profession will be trained and equipped for the job.

Lagos State Fire Service responded to 363 fire incidents during the first quarter of this year alone, while experts have said that population and businesses in the state were growing faster than the capacity of the fire service to deliver effective service.

Lagos is home to an estimated 21 million people. Insurance companies likewise paid a total sum of N23.5bn as claims in four major flood and fire disasters recorded in some parts of the country in the last four years.

Experts have said over the years, that persons and properties in the country are grossly under-insured.

The governor of Lagos had declared that the expansion and re-equipping of the fire service is an urgent matter of state security.

Fashola said having equipped the state fire service, “we are moving to the next phase to establish a fire academy to train youths who want to take to fire fighting as a profession.” He was, however, not specific and detailed, regarding when the academy would take off, but assured the government was on it.

Meanwhile, all the fire trucks handed over are fitted with storage tanks for water, foam and compressed air. The trucks are to make use of the latest auto Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) designed to reduce the volume of water needed to fight fire.

They are manufactured by Messrs W.S Darley of Itasca Illinois, a firm said to have been in business since 1908 as fire fighting/equipment manufacturer for United States military and over 100 countries. Part of the Lagos State agreement with the firm, aside manufacturing the firefighting equipment, is the maintenance and comprehensive training of the state firemen.

Fashola also warned against disrupting the operations of fire fighters in the event of fire outbreak, adding that there are about 570 trained emergency first responders, spread across all the local government areas across the state and should be allowed to take charge of any emergency situation that may arise.

“As we move into the dry season, the risk of fire incident is higher and I want to advise everyone, if you have not taken a fire policy, go and do so, because no matter how hard we try, accidents will happen and insurance can help to mitigate the devastation.

“I also want to appeal that as I hope we do not have any need for this vehicles, when the need for them arises, I want to appeal to us to give way and grant access to these our highly trained and well equipped firefighting personnel. If we block access to where the fire is, we get in the way of their jobs.

“We want to appeal that whenever this happens; we have to give way to them and assist them to get to the scene of the incident. In every local government, we have at least 10 fire service emergency responders that we have trained. Across Lagos, there are 570 young men and women working with Lagos State Emergency Management Agency as first responders.”

The governor said the idea to improve on the state’s ability to respond to emergency started years back, adding that the first thing that was done was to put street signs across the state so that an incident scene can easily be identified.

BusinessDay 03/12/2014;;;;http://businessdayonline.com/2014/12/15-7m-ex-im-bank-loan-boosts-lagos-fire-service/

Oga, post the source so we can go there and verify.

Now, you said 16million for 32 trucks and they've been delivered, right??

Okay, tell us, how many bullets or vests, let alone heavy equipment, has jonathan purchased with the $1Billion loan he secured for the purposes of equipping the military to fight terrorism

omenka:
Oga, post the source so we can go there and verify.

Now, you said 16million for 32 trucks and they've been delivered, right??

Okay, tell us, how many bullets or vests, let alone heavy equipment, has jonathan purchased with the $1Billion loan he secured for the purposes of equipping the military to fight terrorism

bros, the one billion dollars na additional money after several other billions of dollars that has gone down the drain.

Let's not forget that this Lagos state's delivery comes with the training and gadgets

You guys haven't added the stoves to be purchased for N9 Billion.

I can bet I'll never run into those stoves.

At least these trucks will provide employment since they'll need operators and drivers.

So tinubu pùpppèt- fashola is desperate like his master to firmly root lagos in a mind-blowing DEBT when he leaves ? And he says nothing is wrong with that ¿ ! APC and their demonic idealogy.

Objects like this are gotten through credit facilities, check out Nigeria's ammo purchases from Russia as an example.

Borrowing is easy , Now that the equipment has been brought, i just hope proper maintenance will be in-place. If not maintained properly , then the $16m is as good as waste.