In Uzuakoli, Bende LGA, Abia State, the Federal Fire Service has opened a fire training school for the South East.
During a working visit to Abia State by the federal agency’s management, Jaji Olola Abdulganiyu, Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, disclosed the development.
The Governor was notified by the Controller General, through the Assistant Controller of Fire Service, Ijeoma Achi-Okidi, about the fire service training school in Uzuakoli. The project, which is currently under construction, was drawn to it by Georgina Arisa, an Abia State native and retired permanent secretary in the Ministry of Interior.
The Federal Fire Service would provide the state with all necessary assistance to stop fire breakouts and save lives, she said, describing the project as “a very good and robust fire station.”
The Controller General also revealed that it had purchased 15 fast intervention fire engines and 8 contemporary fire trucks that could maneuver through narrow spaces in the event of a fire. It further stated that the vehicles would be distributed to other states.
The Governor was encouraged by the Federal Fire Service to uphold his support for the Abia State Fire Service and to safeguard Federal investments.
Governor Alex Otti greeted his guests, commended the Federal Fire Service for its efforts in securing lives and property around the nation, and asked the organization to provide his government with all necessary support in securing lives and property.
The Governor filed a request with the Federal Fire Service to provide Abia with some of the most advanced firefighting vehicles available, so that they may be utilized to contain confined fire incidents in the event of an epidemic.
Otti expressed gratitude to the Federal government for setting up the training school in Abia, but also pointed out that given the extent of commercial and industrial activity in the state, the donation of some of the advanced equipment will aid in ensuring the safety of citizens’ lives and property.
“We do not want a situation where it would happen and then we would be running helter-skelter”, Otti told the firefighters.