Disquiet as Nigeria govt commissions N12bn firefighting trucks

Controversies have trailed the recent commissioning of ten high-capacity firefighting vehicles reportedly worth over N12 billion by the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN).

Nigeria’s Aviation Minister, Hadi Sirika, in a tweet posted on his official Twitter page Sunday, announced that he had commissioned “ten firefighting trucks” costing over N12 billion.

“Just commissioned 10 Firefighting trucks, total cost of over 12Bn Naira. More to come in due course. Safety has been the Buhari focus in Aviation, since 2015. Hitherto FAAN has not bought new trucks in 15 years,” the minister tweeted.

While some Nigerians lauded the move, describing it as a step towards improving Nigeria’s safety and emergency response across airports in the country, several Nigerians, including a former minister of Education, Oby Ezekwesili, expressed concerns about the actual cost of the vehicles.

Some Nigerians also called on the minister to be more accountable and transparent by also providing the public with the specification of the vehicles.

In a statement by FAAN’s spokesperson, Faithful Hope-Ivbaze issued on Sunday, the authority said the Lion Volkan 6×6 Brand, Major Aerodrome Rescue and Fire Fighting Vehicles (MFFV), have the capacity to carry 14,000 litres of water, 1,700 litres of foam, 250kg powder capacity each, and monitors the discharge rate of between 6,000 litres to 10,000 litres per minute.

According to the statement, the trucks would be deployed to the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos, Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, and Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, Kano respectively.

With an acceleration rate of 0-80 km per hour in 30 seconds, the agency explained that each of the trucks possessed the limitless capacity to discharge while in motion and that they are also equipped with under chassis nozzles to tackle running fuel fire.

In her reaction on Monday, Mrs Ezekwesili wrote: “Hmmm. These fire trucks must be diamond-plated within and without, Mr Minister @hadisirika ! At the official @cenbank exchange rate, each truck cost almost $2.4 million? How?”

“Now I know why some of your folks deride the Due Process-Public Procurement reforms. I get it now. ✍????✍????” she added.