By Hosea Parah

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

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

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

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‎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.

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

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‎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.

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‎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.

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

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

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‎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.

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

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

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