Montserrado County Senator Saah Joseph has criticized the past and current Liberian governments for failing to procure nearly $2 million worth of firefighting equipment, as allocated in the national budget for Fiscal Year 2024.
Despite pressing needs to combat frequent fire outbreaks, the Liberia National Fire Service (LNFS) has yet to acquire essential fire trucks and other equipment.
Senator Joseph highlighted this shortfall as a significant threat to the safety of ordinary Liberians, who are already struggling with severe economic challenges.
Speaking to FrontPage Africa on January 16, Senator Joseph revealed that while the LNFS conducted a bidding process and awarded contracts for the equipment, the items have not arrived.
He pointed out that the situation exacerbates the destruction of lives and properties, especially in Montserrado County.
Although he proposed assigning fire trucks to all 73 electoral districts, the plan was scaled down to providing at least five trucks for Montserrado and other key regions during the budget discussions.
Senator Joseph emphasized that appropriations for fire equipment were included in the previous administration’s 2023 budget and further supported in the 2024 budget, yet no tangible results have been achieved.
He expressed frustration over the LNFS’s slow response to fire incidents, often arriving too late to prevent significant damage. The senator accused the government of negligence, urging immediate action to address the logistical deficiencies of the LNFS.
To ensure accountability, Senator Joseph called on the Liberian Senate to summon the LNFS and the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning to explain the delays. He underscored that a $3.5 million proposal was partially approved, with $1.7 million allocated for fire trucks and equipment.
However, over a year later, no progress has been made, leaving citizens vulnerable to fire-related tragedies.
The senator concluded by stressing the urgent need for the government to fulfill its commitments. He warned that the public would not tolerate further delays, as hundreds of Liberians continue to lose their homes and livelihoods due to insufficient firefighting resources.
According to him, ensuring the arrival of new fire trucks and equipment is a matter of life and death for the affected communities.
