By NAN

A Coalition of Civil Society groups, has lauded Dr Ibrahim Liman, the Controller General, Federal Fire Service (FFS), for remarkably doing well.

The convener of the CSO, Mr Yinka Sotade, gave the commendation at a news conference on Monday, in Abuja.

The groups, under the umbrella of the New Era for Sustainable Leadership and Accountability, said Liman had done so well in office.

He added that such a personality is an asset to the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari to realise the change agenda.

“Under Liman, the service achieved ISO Certification which earned her the rating of being the first amongst military and paramilitary organisations in Africa to obtain such a certificate.

“FFS under his leadership has saved over 800 lives, with about 166 lives between 2020 and June 2021, rescue due to fire and other related emergencies, attended to over 500 persons in distress, while saving property worth over N15.1 trillion.

“Liman was the brain behind the introduction of Toll Emergency and a 24-hour Call Centre.

“FFS has also witnessed a N10.4 billion infrastructure upgrade approved by the Federal Executive Council on March 3, 2021.

“The infrastructure includes 44 firefighting engines, 15 water tankers, 15 rapid intervention fire engines and 20 basic life support ambulances.

“There has been professional foreign courses and experience sharing sessions for all cadres in the service from junior to senior. This shows that Liman is working and has taken the service to the next level,’’ he said.

Sotade, however, expressed displeasure and grave disappointment at the unethical, unfounded and fake news published against Liman.

He said it was even more worrisome, how some journalists had become unprofessional, refused to conduct a thorough investigation into the accusation of the extension of Liman’s tenure as granted by Buhari.

“It is crystal clear and verifiable that since 1963 when the FFS was established by an act of the parliaments, the service under its current leadership has witnessed an array of landslide achievements and operational improvement like never in the past.

“Globally, in every area and sector of life and economy, result-oriented leaderships are needed, identified, applauded, encouraged and given the opportunity to advance the good work.

“We then suspect that the tenure extension may not be unconnected to the great strides achieved by the service under the current leadership,’’ he said.

“The speculation that Liman is currently nursing a political ambition is a big lie from the pit of hell. People should disregard that rumour,’’ he said.(NAN)