Anambra Information Commissioner Adinuba Asks FG, Others To Learn From State Experience In Fire Fighting

Both the Federal Government and all the states in Nigeria including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, have been called upon to learn from the experience of the Anambra State government in fighting fire outbreaks in a modern and effective way.

The call was made in a press statement by the Anambra State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Mr. C. Don Adinuba, in the wake of a series of fire outbreaks in the country, including the one at the Old Automobile Spare Parts Market in Obosi, Idemili North Local Government Area of the state at the weekend which affected twelve lock-up shops.

According to the statement this call became necessary in consideration of the incessant fires across the country induced by the ongoing harmattan.

He said the fire could have been more disastrous but for the timely intervention of key agencies like the Nigeria Police Force, the Anambra State Fire Service, the Anambra State Traffic Management Agency and Operation Clean and Healthy Anambra (OCHA) Brigade to ensure that goods and shops were not looted.

While appreciating the cooperation of the crowd which gathered at the scene cheering officers of the relevant agencies for their gallant action, state government announced that it increased the professional hazard allowance of firemen from a mere ten naira a month to ten thousand naira per month.

The statement said that government has also appointed a highly respected military officer, Air Vice Marshall Ben Chiobi, the managing director of the fire service.

It said in addition, it provided a number of fire trucks and an additional forty vehicles last month to the service.

According to the statement, State government also decided, pending approval from the state House of Assembly, to take the Fire Service away from the supervision of any ministry and make it autonomous, so as to accelerate its efficiency, rather than having to seek permission from the Permanent Secretary in the supervising Ministry who, in turn, would seek the approval of the commissioner and the commissioner would have to contact the governor or Secretary to the State Government for approval of any purchase for the agency.

It also said that the government and people of Anambra State are proud that the state governor, Chief Willie Obiano, has demonstrated sound leadership by identifying the loopholes in the system and tackling them accordingly.

The statement said that it is on this premise and other actions taken to ensure effective fire fighting in the state that Anambra state government is urging all governments in Nigeria to learn from the Anambra State government how to effectively tackle fires, all the more so during this harmattan season.