Lagos — Members of the Nigerian Aviation Fire and Safety Association (NAFSA) has identified lack of sufficient fire cover and the poor state of the existing ones across the nation's airports as a major challenges confronting them in the course of discharging their duties.

Speaking at the unveiling of the annual calendar of the association on Tuesday at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) Headquarters, President of the association, Mr Lewis Ojeifo disclosed that most of the fire covers are decaying saying that there is urgent need for the government to change them.

According to him, some of these tenders are as old as twenty five to thirty years thereby putting Fire fighters under serious stress.

He explained that due to the poor state of the tenders usually exposed fire fighters to risk to their lives against international best practices.

His words: "We are appealing to the management to ensure that the recommended fire tenders and equipment are sourced from the manufactures. They should also ensure that maintenance and servicing are done in accordance with the manufacturers' maintenance schedule."

He said: "On this note, we are appealing to the management to ensure that the recommended fire tenders and equipment are source from the manufactures and that maintenance and servicing are also done in accordance with the manufacturers' maintenance schedule. Fire officers must of necessity be trained by the manufacturers on how to maintain the tenders as this will enhance the life span of the tenders."