The Federal Fire Service in Abuja sensitised commuters on Tuesday to the need to board commercial vehicles with functional fire extinguishers.

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

The command’s spokesperson, Banarbas Anyam, reiterated that drivers and passengers must be aware of fire safety measures.

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

According to Mr Anyam, passengers have the right to be concerned about their safety before boarding any commercial vehicle. 

He therefore advised commuters to check that the vehicle they intend to board is equipped with a functional fire extinguisher to tackle car fires, as safety and fire outbreak prevention are everyone’s responsibility.

Mr Anyam also urged commercial drivers to equip their vehicles with dry chemical powder fire extinguishers, stressing that they are the right extinguisher for car fires. He further recommended at least a six-kilogramme fire extinguisher for better effectiveness in the event of a blaze.

Mr Anyam also called for accessible placement, proper maintenance, and timely replacement of expired extinguishers.

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

Mr Anyam said the demonstration was meant to equip drivers and commuters with the knowledge and confidence to take immediate action in the early stages of a fire before it escalates.

At the park, commercial driver Aliyu Sani expressed enthusiasm for the training and welcomed the initiative.

Mr Sani said that he enjoyed the practical training and would try to sustain the knowledge gained.

He, however, said he wished he could experiment with fire extinguishers, as he was limited to using the one provided by his vehicle owner.

(NAN)