By Kelechi Ogunleye

The Federal Fire Service (FFS), FCT Command, has urged commuters to ensure that commercial vehicles they board are equipped with functional fire extinguishers.

The sensitisation exercise, held on Tuesday at Kukwaba Modern Market and Transit Park in Kubwa, Abuja, was part of activities to commemorate the 2026 National Fire Service Week.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the theme of the week is “Building a Fire Safety for Resilient Nigeria: One Community at a Time”.

Speaking at the event, the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Banarbas Anyam, stressed the need for drivers and passengers to be aware of basic fire safety measures.

Anyam educated commercial drivers, commuters and other road users on fire prevention measures and the importance of taking proactive steps to prevent vehicle fires.

He said passengers had the right to be concerned about their safety before boarding commercial vehicles.

He advised commuters to check whether vehicles they intended to board had functional fire extinguishers to tackle possible fire outbreaks.

Anyam said fire prevention and safety were collective responsibilities, urging commercial drivers to equip their vehicles with Dry Chemical Powder (DCP) fire extinguishers.

He said DCP extinguishers were suitable for tackling vehicle fires and recommended a minimum capacity of six kilogrammes for better effectiveness.

He also advised drivers to position extinguishers where they could be easily accessed, maintain them properly and replace expired ones promptly.

The NAN reports that firefighters conducted a practical demonstration on the proper use of fire extinguishers.

Anyam said the demonstration was aimed at equipping drivers and commuters with the knowledge and confidence to respond promptly to fires at their early stages before they escalated.

In an interview with NAN, a commercial driver, Aliyu Sani, expressed enthusiasm about the training and welcomed the initiative.

Sani said he found the practical session useful and would endeavour to sustain the knowledge gained.

He, however, said he wished he could practise using fire extinguishers but was limited to the equipment provided by his vehicle owner.

Similarly, a commuter, who pleaded anonymity, commended the service for the campaign.

She said it was encouraging to see firefighters arrive early to educate residents on fire safety.

She, however, said it was almost impossible for commuters to check fire extinguishers before boarding commercial vehicles.

According to her, most commercial drivers do not have fire extinguishers, while those who have them may be carrying expired ones. (NAN)

Edited by Deborah Coker