A’IBOM LAWMAKERS APPEAL FOR ADEQUATE MACHINERY FOR FIRE SERVICE STATIONS ACROSS THE STATE

Jerryz Edoho

Sequel to repeated Fire outbreaks in Oron Local Government Area which has claimed several lives and properties destroyed. The Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly has called on the State Government to work out modalities to reposition the State Fire Service Unit in all the thirty-one LGAs.

Rt. Hon. David Lawrence

The Chairman, House Committee on Works, Rt. Hon. David Lawrence made the appeal at  Plenary on Tuesday, while presenting its Committee’s report on the status of Fire Service Stations in the State.
Hon. Lawrence, advised the State Government to provide the Fire Service Uniit in each of the LGAs with  fucntional Utility Vehicles, adequate Water trucks and other  Fire-fighting equipments to aide the officers contend with fire outbreaks and to enable them discharge their functions effectively.

The Lawmaker who said it is imperative for the State Government to provide essential Fire-Fighting equipments and Utility vehicles for State Fire Service following repeated Fire outbreaks which has claimed several lives and properties destroyed, informed that the call for a functional Fire Service is as a result of a follow-up findings on the motion moved on the 23rd of January 2023, by the member representing Oron/Udung Uko State Constituency, Rt. Hon. Effiong Bassey; captioned: “Abysmal Performance of The Akwa Ibom State Fire Service Unit in Oron LGA”.

He noted that incessant fire outbreaks in Oron, and repeated excuses of absence of water-tankers, no Utility vehicles and other fire-fighting equipments for intervention from the Fire Unit has led to painful loss of lives and massive properties. With the yearly budgetary allocation in every Financial year for acquisition of fire-fighting equipments to enable  them discharge its functions, Hon. Lawrence pondered why such essential and life-saving service provider like the Fire Service is  ill-equipped.

The Eket Lawmaker however appealed to the State Government to graciously look into the plight of fire Stations in the State by building a new Fire Stations and renovating existing ones to ensure that all the thirty-one LGAs of the State have State-of-the-art stations and duly equipped with Fire-Fighting equipments.