Former Head of State, General Abubakar Abdulsalami (rtd), on Thursday urged town planners to always provide wide access roads in markets to provide easy passage for responders during fire or any disaster.
Abdulsalami gave the advice on Thursday in Minna when the Controller General (CG) of Federal Fire Service (FFS), Dr Liman Ibrahim, paid him a courtesy visit.
He also said that the fire service should review its policy and fire safety standard document to include mandatory provision of good roads in markets and its environs.
“I think in your document you should see how the legislators will make it mandatory for town planners to plan a layout for access to fire scenes,” he said.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CG was in Minna for a three-day conference on the review of standard operation code and other laws guiding the fire service.
The former Head of State applauded the federal fire service on it’s plan to acquire a firefighting helicopter.
“It is not an easy task considering the finances of the country, but you have been able to sell your idea to the appropriate authorities and it only means you are putting in lots of efforts.
“I am also aware of your trips to inspect some ordered equipment,” he added, and hailed the CG for the tremendous successes recorded so far under his tenure, which had earned recognition for the service.
“Before your emergence as FFS CG not much was known about the activities of the service and not much attention was given to it at the state and FG level,” he noted.
NAN reports that the CG also paid a courtesy visit to former President, Ibrahim Babangida, during which Babangida congratulated the FFS boss for building a “stronger institution”.
“I congratulate you for the job you have been doing to the service and the country as a whole.
“Your name will be remembered for institutionalising the soon to be acquired new policy, and as long as the institution is strong, it will go well,” he said.(NAN)