ENUGU STATE FIRE SERVICE INTENSIFIES ADVOCACY AGAINST FIRE OUT BREAKS IN MARKETS
Reporter : CHRISTIAN NWANGENE
Enugu State Government has cautioned residents against activities that will put the environment at the risk of fire disaster during this dry season.
The Chief Fire officer, Enugu State Fire Service, Mr. Okwudiri Daniel Ohaa, made the call while addressing traders at Kenyetta, Afor Awkunanaw, Eke Obunagu, Emene, and Coal camp markets on Fire safety measures.
Mr. Ohaa called on traders to cooperate with the government to have a fire free yuletide and save the state from economic waste that might arise from any fire out break.
“Our aim is to make sure that we reduce fire outbreak in the state and particularly our markets because we know that markets are of great economic value to the state and if you can recall, we started this market sensitization on the 1st of December, we kicked it off at Ogbete Main Market and since then we’ve been visiting various markets,” Mr. Ohaa stated.
The Chief Fire Officer explained that the sensitization tagged: ‘Operation Zero Fire in the Markets’ was in continuation of Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s directives to enlighten traders in over forty markets across the State against fire emergency.
In a presentation, the Officer in Charge of Operations, Enugu State Fire Service, Mr. Kenneth Ngwu, lamented that traders in the markets had erected shops against thoroughfares that would be used by fire trucks in the case of emergency.
Mr. Ngwu noted that with the situation, the markets were at risk of colossal loss in the event of fire outbreak.
The Chairman of Kenyetta Market, Mr. Chiwuba Igwesi, and that of the Afor Awkunanaw Market, Mr. Olisaemeka John Nwobodo, expressed gratitude to the State Government and Fire Service for the sensitization, and as they meant well for the people.
Meanwhile the Fire Service boss, appealed to the Local Government Chairmen in the State to provide spaces for Fire Service posts in the markets while giving approval for effective coverage of the state from fire outbreaks.