The Honourable Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbegosola on Wednesday decorated four (4) newly appointed Deputy Controllers General (DCGs) of the Federal Fire Service, DCG Karebo Samson, DCG Abdulganiyu Jaji, DCG Tesleem Agunloye and DCG Calistus Agu. The Minister while Congratulating the new DCGs, used the opportunity to reiterate that DCG Kerebo will be in charge at the Federal Fire Service as the Acting Controller General pending the appointment of a substantive Controller General.
Aregbesola said, “I will like to congratulate the newly appointed Acting CG and DCGs being decorated today – Karebo Samson, Jaji Olola Abdulganiyu, Agunloye Teslim Oluokun and Agu Callistus Kanny (rtd). Samson will mount the saddle of the service in acting capacity until a substantive CG is appointed.”.
“It is of particular interest to me when the Acting CG said he joined the service as a fireman. It means the service is an equal opportunity employer; every fireman has the potential to become the CG,” The Minister said.
Aregbegosola used the opportunity to laud President Muhammadu Buhari for transforming the Federal Fire Service. The minister who enumerated the achievements of the current administration in the Service noted that between 2015 and now, the Federal Government led by President Muhammadu Buhari committed more resources into the Fire Service than since its creation in 1901.
“The attention and resources devoted by the Buhari administration since 2015 is more than whatever has been put into it since its establishment in 1901. Between 2015 and 2020″
Ogbeni Aregbegosola hailed the Federal Fire Service for saving 587 live, and property worth 18.9 trillion naira in 2021 alone, “last year, the FSS responded to 2,845 SOS distress-calls in which 136 lives and property worth N3 trillion were lost. But the FSS was able to save 587 lives, rescue 260 persons and save property worth N18.9 trillion.
“In sum, the stock of the FSS has grown in leaps and bounds as the agency has contributed significantly to national security – in the protection of lives and property,” the Minister revealed.
The Minister who acknowledged the visionary leadership and invaluable contributions of the immediate past Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Dr. Liman Alhaji to the Federal Fire stated that he will miss working with the former CGF, ” I must not fail to commend and thank the erstwhile CG, Ibrahim Liman, for his innovation, industry and perspicacity. He is the human instrument of the revolutionary changes at the FSS. His capacity to grasp issues and policies and make them actionable is legendary. I will miss working with him. I thank him for his invaluable services to the nation through the FSS. I pray that he will be happy and fulfilled in retirement and have resounding success in his endeavours,”
Earlier in her welcome address before presenting the DCGs to the Minister for decoration, the Secretary to the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Correctional Services Board (CDFICB) Hajiya Aisha Ahmed Rufai urged the DCGs to live up to the billing.
The Acting CGF, Karebo Samson while responding on behalf of newly promoted officers, expressed their appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari for the confidence reposed in them, stating they won’t disappoint Nigerians in discharging the statutory responsibility of saving lives and property of Nigerians.
The event had in attendance the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Interior, Dr. Shuaibu Belgore; Hon. Commissioner Appointment and Promotion CDCFIB, Maj. Gen. Emmanuel Etim Bassey (rtd); Hon. Commissioner Discipline and General Purposes CDCFIB, ACG Ado Abdullahi Ja’afar (rtd), Commandant General of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, NSCDC, CG Abubakar Audi; Controller General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, NCoS, CG Haliru Nababa, and other invited guests
