Ekiti State Governor, Dr Kayode Fayemi; with Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Wole Olugboji (L), Inspecting a guard of honour by newly recruited State Fire Services Department , during the Closing Orientation Ceremonies in Ado-Ekiti..
Ekiti State Government has said that it has concluded arrangements for the construction of four new fire stations in strategic areas of the state while the on-going construction of a fire station at Ijero Ekiti will be completed early next year.
The state Governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi made this known at the closing ceremony of a five-week training for newly recruited 153 firefighters and paramedics; saying that his administration targets the establishment of a functional fire service station as well as an ambulance bay in each of the 16 local government areas of the state by 2014.
These, he said, are aimed at bringing the emergency services closer to the people.
Dr. Fayemi who stated that he had directed that fire points be established beside the ambulance bays at Itawure and Omuo to serve the needs of the communities in those areas said six ambulance bays located across the state are being renovated for the operations of the State Ambulance Service which will be manned by the Paramedics.
He added that the commitment of his administration to the safety of lives and property of citizens is further demonstrated with the procurement of five firefighting trucks, three back-up water tankers and six sophisticated ambulances; saying that more fire engines, tankers and ambulances would be purchased next year to reposition the service further.
While urging the new recruits to justify the confidence reposed in them by the people as life-savers, the Governor advised the people to be security conscious and make use of the emergency lines which the state government would soon put in place for distress calls to either the ambulance or the fire service.
Earlier in his speech, the Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr Wole Olugboji said his Ministry is planning to send a bill to the State House of Assembly for a legal backing for the establishment of the State Safety Commission which will be saddled with the responsibility of coordinating all matters relating to safety in the State.
Olugboji however assured that the state government would embark on continuous training programmes to ensure more professionalism on the part of life-savers in the fire services and ambulance services departments.
He expressed optimism that the just concluded training would reposition the State Fire Service and the Ambulance Services for effective service delivery to the people.
Last modified: October 4, 2012
