Ndifreke P. AKPAN
Akwa Ibom State Government has agreed to partner the Federal Government for the construction of a metropolitan Fire Station for the South South Zone in the state capital.
Governor Udom Emmanuel announced this when he granted audience to the Controller General of Fire Service, Engr. Anebi Joseph Garba who led a delegation of Fire Officials to the Government House, Uyo on a courtesy call to the State Chief Executive.
Governor Emmanuel while making the promise said the land to be provided by the state for the Fire Station will be easily accessible without traffic congestion and suitable for the discharge of their responsibility.
He expressed appreciation to the Federal Fire Service for the decision to set up a zonal office in the state noting that it will compliment government’s efforts at setting up an emergency centre in conjunction with the state Ministry of Health, and other related services.
The Governor made a case for the employment of Akwa Ibom people by the Federal Fire Service and promised to assist in certain aspects of logistics and other things.
He stated that the state was not taking their coming to Akwa Ibom for granted as shown in the calibre of stakeholders invited to be part of the courtesy call by the State Government and assured the officials of a successful stay in the course of work in Akwa Ibom.
Earlier, the Controller General, Federal Fire Service, Engineer Anebi Joseph Garba had said that the purpose of the visit was to request for a suitable land for the construction of a metropolitan-type fire station for the South South Zone in Uyo.
According to Engineer Anebi, the decision to site the office in Akwa Ibom is sequel to approval by the Federal Government for the construction of such station in the six geopolitical zones in the country.
He said the service will soon commence the strengthening of its presence in Akwa Ibom with the deployment of multi-million naira fire fighting assets and personnel.
The fire boss stated that in addition to the provision of land requested by the service, the state government will provide minimal logistic support especially utility vehicles to compliment operational activities.
The essence of the new arrangement, according to the Controller General, is to check the frequency and severity of inferno in recent times especially as they sometimes take lives and cause inestimable losses of invaluable property with billions of naira.
The Federal Fire Service delegation to the Government House had the Assistant Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, General Azagu, Director, Akwa Ibom State Fire Service, Ubong Bassey, The South South Zonal Commander of the Fire Service, Njoku Chika, The South East Commander of the Fire Service, Akpan Anthony among others in attendance.
