Worried by the incessant outbreak of fire in states in the country, the Ekiti State government has said the state fire service department would be repositioned for optimal response to emergency fire outbreak in any part of the state.
The Chief of Staff to the governor, Mr Biodun Omoleye, who stated this during his visit to the department on Saturday during the maiden edition of the environmental sanitation, added that the government was disturbed with the recent reports of fire outbreak across the country.
Omoleye noted that the lives and property of residents were important to the government and would do everything to put the station in good condition to respond to emergency effectively in record time.
He observed that most of the fire fighting gadgets purchased during the first term administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi had become dilapidated due to poor maintenance culture.
The Chief of Staff, who disclosed that there was a need to replace the water storage, assured that the government would intervene by ensuring synergy with relevant agencies in the water and emergency sectors.
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He said: “I am here today to ascertain the challenges and problems confronting the organisation from performing optimally and see how the government can come into assistance.
” Today, most of the equipment is in a state of comatose, most of the fire fighting engines are distress because they have not been serviced, some have serious mechanical and electrical problems. Worst still, some have just minor problems like batteries and some had been grounded.
“But the biggest problem they have is the water challenge. I visited the water site, I noticed they have a functional water supply they have a good borehole but the storage is faulty for like 3 or 4 years. The biggest challenge is how to replace it with a new water storage tank or facilities, we are going to intervene in this regard.”
Omoleye directed the Director of the agency to put up a comprehensive update on the challenges facing the fire services for onward presentation to the governor for consideration.
He called on traditional and religious leaders to support the state government in sensitising residents on the importance of environmental sanitation in order to have a safe and healthy state.
While lamenting the non-compliance of residents to the restriction of movement order, Omoleye said the government would not hesitate to use the full weight of the law against defaulters.
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