By Garba Abdullahi Bagwai, From Kano
Kano State has been ranked 15th among the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in public safety and disaster management performance, the Federal Fire Service (FFS) has disclosed.
The new Kano State Controller of the Federal Fire Service, Deputy Controller of Fire, Alhaji Usman Sadik Mahmud, disclosed this in an exclusive interview with Citizenship Daily on Wednesday.
He said data from a survey conducted on public safety across the country and contained in the national database between 2021 and 2025 showed that Kano recorded about 533 environmental disasters during the five-year period.
According to him, the incidents included fire outbreaks, flooding, building collapses and other accidents, with metropolitan local government areas recording the highest number of disasters.
Mahmud said out of the 533 disasters recorded, 512 were fire outbreaks.
He further disclosed that properties worth an estimated N168 billion were destroyed during the period, while 68 people lost their lives and 102 others sustained various degrees of injuries.
However, the controller said the coordinated efforts of relevant agencies, including the Kano State Fire Service, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Nigerian Red Cross Society, Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), helped to save properties estimated at N531 billion from various disasters between 2021 and 2025.
He, however, said the achievement was not satisfactory considering Kano’s 15th position in public safety and disaster management among the 36 states and the FCT.
Mahmud attributed the high rate of disasters in the state partly to non-compliance with safety regulations and inadequate public awareness of disaster management.
He cited Lagos and Port Harcourt as examples of places where compliance with public safety regulations and increased awareness among residents had helped to reduce the incidence of fire disasters.
“We are determined to ensure that Kano will be among the best states in public safety within a short period of time, but this cannot be achieved without the support of both public and private individuals.
“Fire disasters and other environmental hazards are a collective responsibility of everybody, as it is being practised in some states in the South,” he said.
The controller also lamented the shortage of functional firefighting equipment in the state, saying the situation was affecting the service’s ability to respond effectively to emergencies.
He disclosed that the Federal Government procured three firefighting vehicles for the state in 2022, but only one was currently operational, while the remaining two had been grounded for years.
“In 2022, the Federal Government procured three firefighting vehicles, but currently only one is working. The remaining two have been grounded for years.
“We need the support of the state government, private individuals and institutions to ensure that the grounded firefighting vehicles are repaired. This will help improve our services and enable us to better protect the lives and property of the people of the state,” Mahmud said.
He also expressed concern over the procurement of firefighting equipment by unqualified contractors, saying the practice had resulted in the supply of equipment that failed to meet the required standards and specifications.
According to him, some private individuals and institutions procure firefighting equipment without consulting professionals, thereby compromising the quality and effectiveness of the equipment.
“Most of the equipment provided by some private individuals does not meet the actual specifications required because they do not consult professionals before supplying the equipment.
“Almost 90 per cent of fire equipment used in some states does not meet the required standards. This is different from what obtains in developed countries,” he said.
Mahmud called on relevant authorities to review the process of awarding contracts for the procurement of firefighting equipment in the country.
He stressed the need for professionals to be involved in the procurement process and for all equipment supplied to fire services to meet established standards.
He said adherence to the required standards would improve the operational capacity of firefighters, boost their morale and enable them to carry out their duties more effectively.
“Professionals have to be consulted to ensure that all equipment meets the required standards. This will help boost the morale of fire officers and enable them to successfully carry out their assignments without disappointment,” Mahmud said.
