Deputy Governor of Ekiti State, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka accompanied by the State Director of Fire Services, Mr. Dada Kayode, inspecting the guard of honour mounted by a detachment of newly recruited firemen at the flag off of five weeks training for newly recruited firemen and paramedics in the State on Thursday.
Ekiti State Government has reiterated its commitment to ensuring the security of lives and properties of the entire citizenry and to put adequate human and material apparatus in place to prevent any eventualities that may arise from natural and man-caused disasters.
The Deputy Governor, Mrs. Funmi Olayinka made the remark in Ado at the flag off of a five-week induction/training programme for the 153 newly recruited Firemen and Paramedics in the state.
Explaining that the administration of Governor Kayode Fayemi considers Fire Services operation as very instrumental to providing security of lives and properties and as well preventing causalities in case of fire outbreak and natural disasters.
Olayinka who recalled that a similar training programme was declared opened by Governor Fayemi in February for officers and men of Fire Services on the operations of a modern fire truck donated to the State by friends of the Governor in the diaspora, explained that the training for the new recruits will provide them the technicalities needed whenever they are on rescue mission during fire incidents, road accidents and other related emergency services.
Appealing to the people of the state to be security conscious at all times, the Deputy Governor charged them to avoid creating unnecessary hazardous situations which could lead to unpleasant consequences and to always alert the appropriate security and emergency management outfits on time for quick intervention.
Olayinka congratulated the new recruits for being among the few lucky, adding that the present administration was determined to ensuring that adequate equipment and man power are in place to guarantee that indigenes of the state live peacefully, without avoidable disaster.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wole Olugboji commended Governor Kayode Fayemi for his commitment to human capital development and high regard for the safety of lives and properties in Ekiti which informed the recruitment of the 103 firemen/officers and 50 paramedics to handle disasters and emergency
in Ekiti State.
He explained that the training programme is a follow up for the recruited fire officers and paramedics to prepare them adequately for the challenges and technicalities involved in fire incidences, medical emergencies and other disasters.
While noting that the Department of Fire Services in Ekiti State could not boast of adequate personnel to carry out rescue operations before now, Olugboji says the new recruits are to raise the preparedness ofthe Services to handle fire and other r elated disasters and emergency situations in the state.
According to him, 5 fire fighting engines, 6 sophisticated ambulances, 3 water tankers to serve as back up to the fire trucks and associated accessories have all been ordered to give emergency services a sound footing in the state.
Other decisions to be taken by the government to address emergency situations across the state is the renovation of the 3 existing Fire Stations at Ikere, Ikole and Ijero while the ambulance bays to serve as points for the State Emergency Ambulance Services are already undergoing necessary renovation.
In his own remarks, the Lead Consultant of Magen and AA Disasters and Emergency Management Limited; handlers of the training, Mr. Alony Moshe said his organistaion was ready to give one of the best orientation in terms of theoretical and pragmatic trainings.
Last modified: September 6, 2012