The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with Federal Fire Service (FFS), sensitised tanker, truck drivers on fire safety to save lives and property.



Imam Garki, North West Zonal Coordinator of the agency, made this known on Wednesday to mark the Fire Safety Week in Kaduna.



The campaign had the theme: ”Achieving Zero Fire Emergency Through Fire Prevention, Detection, Protection and Control”.



The event which commenced at the popular trailer park in Maraban Jos brought together critical stakeholders, community leaders, petroleum tanker drivers, major oil marketers.



According to him, the sensitisation was necessary to address critical issues of safety during road crashes involving tanker drivers leading to loss of lives and properties.



Represented by, Halima Sulaiman, Chief Information Office of the agency, noted that fire had claimed several lives and that it was also responsible for the loss of valuable assets and property.



" We are advocating to community leaders, as your influence is key, to sensitize and create awareness in communities most especially the high definition vehicle drivers.



“Apart from the drivers we also want to sensitise the residents on the dangers of rushing to scoop petroleum products immediately tankers fall. This is very dangerous and must be avoided,” he said.



“When tankers fall it is does not call for celebration; it is death and people should desist from scooping fuel in such a situation,”



He urged traditional rulers in the state to caution their subjects against scooping fuel from accident scenes.



Jonah Ayuba, state Commandant fire service, said the sensitisation was critical for the community being a major trailer park vaulnerable to outbreaks



He said that during the harmattan season, cases of fire outbreak do increase, saying that it became pertinent for the service to approve the yearly fire awareness campaign.



Ayuba, admonished the public to be fire conscious by observing safety tips to prevent its outbreak.



Zakaria Sa'id, village head of Katargu, commended NEMA, FFS for the timly initiative saying members of the community require fire prevention trainings to prevent accidents, explosions.



“Road crashes create social costs for individuals, families and society. Road traffic injuries place a heavy burden on health services and economies.