Chime moves to Fortify Enugu State Fire Service

By The Citizen

On the heels of his unprecedented provision of brand new Fire engines
to the Enugu State Fire Service, Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu
State has concluded plans to provide the Service with State of the Art
equipment for rescue operations in the events of disaster or mishaps.

The State Commissioner for Rural Development, Dr. Eric Oluedo
announced this at a Workshop organized for government ministries,
departments and agencies as well as other establishments in the state
to prepare them to fight cases of fire outbreak at any point in time
as the city continues to expand..

The Commissioner said the government intended to procure fire-proof
dresses for the officials of the State Fire Service to ensure that
their operations and services meet with international standard.

According to Dr. Oluedo, the State Governor, has also approved
recruitment of 40 able bodies' physically young men as firemen into
the State Fire Service to inject new blood into the establishment to
ensure that the firemen were able to face the challenges involved in
fire fighting incidents.

Dr. Oluedo explained that the state fire service was highly rated in
the country and used the occasion to call on wealthy indigenes,
residents of the city and public spirited individuals to compliment
government efforts in supporting the fire outfit since it can not do
it alone.

He explained that his ministry now works in synergy with the State
Ministry of Capital Development, adding that apart from ensuring that
fire gadgets were installed in appropriate places, the two ministries
cooperate in other welfarism to protect the people of the state.

The commissioner said that the Ministry of Rural Development organized
the workshop for MDGs and other ministries in Enugu State to prepare
them to fight cases of fire outbreak at any point in time, as the city
was growing rapidly as a notable developed centre in the world.

Also in a contribution, the State Chief Fire Officer, Mr. Onodugo
Cosmas, represented by Mr. Obinna Omebi in an interview said that the
State Fire Service has been repositioned by the State Governor, Mr.
Sullivan Chime.

He noted that the problem of water and vehicles were now a thing of
the past, pointing out that there is a dam that ensures storage of
water to meet challenges orchestrated by emergencies.

On the strength of staff, Mr. Omebi stated that 64 workers were
recruited, and now the state government has given approval for the
recruitment of additional 40 young firemen.

The workshop was attended by top government officials including the
Permanent Secretary, Rural Development, Mr. Barth Ede, Senior Special
Adviser to the State Governor on Rural Development, Mr. Henry Ugwuodo,
among others.