Harmattan: Ekiti set to strengthen fire-fighters with equipment

Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi, has said that the state is in the process of distributing fire-fighting equipment and appliances to fire stations across the state as part of efforts to strengthen fire-fighting especially as the dry season sets in.

Fayemi, who expressed happiness that fire disasters had declined in the state since 2019, attributed it to the synergy among all relevant institutions working to prevent fire outbreaks in the state.

He pledged his administration’s sustained support to the Ekiti State Fire Service to improve on response time and thereby reduce loss of lives and property to fire incidents and other emergencies.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Chief Bisi Egbeyemi, who spoke on Friday at the Passing-Out Parade of the newly-recruited 59 fire personnel made up of 42 men and 17 women into the Ekiti State Fire Service in Ado Ekiti, said, “Some fire equipment and appliances are being refurbished to be distributed to fire stations across the state.”

A statement by the Special Assistant (Media) to the Deputy Governor, Odunayo Ogunmola, titled, ’59 new officers recruited into Ekiti Fire Service’, stated that the fire equipment and appliances were undergoing refurbishment and it includes; five fire engines, one water tanker and water reservoir to be distributed to fire stations without engine and those yet to have one including the Oja Oba Ultramodern Market, Ado Ekiti.

He lauded Major Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd.) for approving the creation of a Federal Fire Service Command in Ekiti State and the provision of one firefighting truck to complement the activities of the state government at combating fire outbreaks in the state.

Earlier, the Commissioner for Infrastructure and Public Utilities, Mr Bamidele Faparusi, said the Fayemi administration had repositioned the Fire Service which he said was abandoned by the immediate past administration.

Faparusi, who stressed that the importance of Fire Service to the state economy could not be overemphasized, hailed Fayemi for promptly approving the proposal to employ 59 new fire personnel to ensure effective service delivery to the people.

Credit: Punch