Ogbeni Aregbesola stated that the safety and protection of lives and property of Nigerians should not be handled with levity, hence the need for the officers and men of FFF to brace up for challenges across the country.
Aregbesola, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Dr. Shuaib Belgore, gave the charge while decorating 157 newly promoted officers of the Federal Fire Service at the service headquarters in Abuja.
"You must step up your performance and ensure as much as possible, to step down response time to emergency calls and as well, have the right attitude to grow the service so that the public will recognize how important and effective you are, because, to whom much is given, much is expected," he said.
He added that being worthy of promotion was just the first step, earning the confidence the people have in them is very necessary.
The Minister who congratulated the officers for their well-deserved promotion, stated that it was an honour to decorate the officers after due process had been followed by they sitting for the examination, screened, confirmed and found worthy of being promoted.
'The future of the service to a large extent is in your hands and you are responsible for encouraging those funding the service,' he stressed.
He noted further that, the most important duties of the service was not only putting out fire which is what most people think but rescuing and saving lives and property of citizens.
Earlier in his remarks, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Dr. Liman Alhaji Ibrahim appreciated the efforts of the Minister and Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior by ensuring that the service is being positively reformed.
Among the 157 officers promoted were: four Deputy Controller Generals; 14 Assistant Controller Generals; nine Controllers (CFs); 11 Deputy Controllers (DCFs); and 26 Assistant Controllers (ACFs).
Sadly, an officer who was to be decorated died before the event.
