The Governor of Abia State, Dr. Okezie Ikpeazu has expressed the government’s preparedness to partner the Federal fire service in its fight to drastically reduce the spate of fire outbreak and the attendant loss of lives and property in the state.
Gov. Ikpeazu who stated this during a courtesy visit by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Interior, Mrs. Georgina Ehuria and the Controller General of the federal fire service at the government house Umuahia, pointed out that the multiplier impact of fire outbreaks on the citizenry and the economy are enormous.
He Commended FG for their effort to checkmate the ugly trend and threat of fire outbreaks across the nation.
The Governor who was represented by his deputy, Sir. Ude Oko Chukwu, described the proposed establishment of Federal Fire Service South East Training School as an added advantage, as it will provide employment and improve the state economy.
He reassured that the government will provide them with the necessary assistance and logistics that will enable them to realize their objectives. He commended the Abia born Permanent Secretary, for her role in attracting the project to the state.
Earlier in her speech, Mrs. Ehuria said they came to Abia to implement the legislative mandate of public safety, as they are positioned to respond to state and national emergencies in the area of Fire outbreak through training of fire service officials.
On his part, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Dr. Ibrahim Leman said the Fire Service Training School for southeast Zone will offer training for the professional development of firefighters in Abia, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi and Enugu State. He added that one state of the Art modern fire fighting truck and a significant number of firefighters will be deployed for the take-off of the training school which will maintain a fire fighting force to complement the state fire service operations.
Dr. Leman commended the state governor, for the various policies he has put in place especially in the area of Agriculture, Commerce, and industry to strengthen the economic base of the state.
The visit which featured the formal handover of letter of the offer of allocation of 10 Hectares of land at the new Umuahia Housing unit to the building of the Fire Service Training school for the southeast zone by the state government, attracted the presence of members of the state executive council, permanent secretaries and Security personnel.
