Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola, has commended the Federal Government for being supportive to the state and for approving the establishment of the Zonal Fire Service Headquarters in the state.
The governor specifically lauded President Muhammadu Buhari and the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for commendation, saying that the gesture would further complement the efforts of the state towards preventing and combating natural disasters.
He advocated the need for the people to always apply preventive measures and cultivate the habit that would enhance safety and strengthen the security of lives and property.
Governor Oyetola spoke on Wednesday in his office while receiving the Controller General of Federal Fire Service, Dr. Liman Ibrahim and his entourage who were in the state to inaugurate the newly procured state-of-the-art fire fighting trucks donated by the Federal Government.
The governor, who reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring safety and security of lives and property, said the government would continue to promote enlightenment programmes that could help to expose the public to precautionary measures against natural disasters.
“First of all, I must thank President Muhammadu Buhari for the wonderful support for the state. I equally commend the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, for finding it necessary to support the state in this regard.
“You will recall that about a month ago, we commissioned 11 fire service stations across the state alongside the fire fighting trucks that we rehabilitated as part of efforts to prevent and combat fire incidence.
“This is to boost swift response system to any form of distress particularly when there is fire outbreak.
“Our administration has demonstrated high commitment to the welfare of our people as we have been alive to our constitutional responsibilities particularly on their security and welfare.
“Our administration understands the need to ensure the protection of lives and property of the citizens which is why we are doing everything possible to ensure safety at all cost,” Oyetola said.
Speaking on the occasion, the Controller of Federal Fire Service, Dr. Liman Ibrahim, lauded the state government for being committed to the security and welfare of the people of the state.
He said the agency was aware of the state’s commitment to strengthen the capacity of the agency for efficient and effective service delivery.
The Fire Service boss disclosed that the Federal Government had through the Ministry of Interior, approved the establishment of a Federal Fire Service Zonal Headquarters in Osogbo.
He explained that the newly procured fire fighting trucks were donated to the state in confirmation of the take-off of the new Zone.
Ibrahim further revealed that approval had also been given for the relocation of the Federal Fire Service Training School for the South West Zone presently in Lagos to Osun State, saying the relocation became necessary due to the recent affiliation of the National Fire Academy, Sheda, to the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna for the purpose of running a post graduate programme in disaster management.
“I am in Osogbo today with good tidings. I have come to officially inform you that the Ministry of Interior, under the headship of Alhaji Rauf Aregbesola, has approved the establishment of a Federal Fire Service Zonal Headquarters in Osogbo.
“Osogbo is the Headquarters of Zone ‘L’ and comprises Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states. A letter to that effect was earlier communicated to you. For a start, two state-of-the-art modern fire fighting trucks and a significant number of fire-fighters are being deployed for the take-off of the new Zone, courtesy of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“The Federal Fire Service Training School for the South West Zone presently in Lagos is to be relocated to Osun State. The relocation became necessary due to the recent affiliation of the National Fire Academy, Sheda, to the Nigeria Defence Academy, Kaduna for the purpose of running a post- graduate programme in disaster management.
“The training school in Lagos will now be a mini campus of the National Fire Academy, Sheda, to bring the programme to the doorsteps of students in the South West.
“The deployment of these huge assets to Osun is to complement the efforts of the state Fire Service while enhancing service delivery for the protection of lives and property.
“Fire fighting, as we all know, is everybody’s responsibility and the need for a robust collaboration between the centre and state in this regard cannot be over emphasised,” Ibrahim said.
