Rivers State Government has promised a five million Naira monthly donation for the maintenance of fire trucks and other equipment deployed by the Federal Fire Service, FFS, in the state.
The State Governor, Nyesom Wike made the promise in Portharcourt at the presentation of the truck by the Controller General, CG of the Federal Fire Service, Dr Ibrahim Liman.
The Fire equipment deployed to Rivers State include, one Fire Fighting truck, one Basic life support Ambulance and one dual purpose water tanker to strengthen capacity of officers in combating fire across Rivers state and environs.
Receiving the equipment, the Rivers state governor, Mr Nyesom Wike said the deployment of the equipment by the Federal government to the state in spite of political difference showed that the countries democracy was depending.
Governor Wike who promised to provide the FFS with two rapid intervention vehicle gave an assurance of his continuous support to Personnel of the Federal Fire Service to enable them actualise their mandate.
“We will give some stipend of 5 million naira every month to buy consumables for this equipment to make sure that these vehicles are maintained… If I findout any day there is fire outbreak and i hear that you said there are no consumables, we would stop giving you stipends to take care of the vehicles” the Governor added.
He expressed concerns over the safety of lives and property and pleaded for the trucks to be judiciously utilised for the interest of residents in the state.
Earlier, the CG of the FFS Dr. Liman Ibrahim said the move to deploy the equipment was to assist in protecting the various infrastructure put in place by the Governor wike government.
“The presence of FFS in states is to compliment the effort of State Fire Service. Iťs the responsibility of the State to provide that services but the FG has to also support and this is one of the things we are doing and your Excellency I want to let you know that the Honourable Minister of Interior has promised to deploy more fire fighting trucks to Portharcourt in particular on or before the end of this year because of this oil companies and being the treasure of our Nation we need to protect these assets,” the CG said.
Dr Ibrahim appealed to the state government to include personnel from the fire service in the state security council meetings so that they can be better aquinted with situation in the state.
Similarly, the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbeshola, represented by his special Assistant, Mr Bola Ilori while appreciating the Governor of Rivers State for promoting safety, called on other Governors to prioritize fire prevention and disaster management.