RSG To Enforce Emergency Exits In Govt Buildings

Displeased with the rising conversion of emergency exits in high rise buildings into offices  by top government officials especially at the State Secretariat Complex, the Rivers State Ministry of Special Duties has threatened to enforce the law on such officials.

Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Emeka Wogu in a chat with newsmen at the weekend in Port Harcourt said that the development would no longer be condoned by the government, since such exits are important for the safety of lives and property in such buildings.

In his words,” I have taken statistics of emergency exits in government buildings and I have noticed that there are much to be done. Some public officers have converted such exits and incorporated them into office space”.

The Special Duties Commissioner stated that he would write to such officials and thereafter bring the matter to the notice of the Governor, if nothing was done in a month’s time.

He stated that as plan to ensure the safety of lives in the seccretariat and other government buildings in the state, the Ministry was working on plans to train staffers from the various Ministries as Emergency Fire Wardens.

Such officials he noted would be selected from each of the Ministries to be trained as emergency fire wardens”, adding that plans are in top gear to revitalise the State Fire Service Department to meet the current fire outbreak challenge.”

Part of the plans he averred include acquiring new fire trucks, extinguishers and extending fire services to the hinterlands.

According to him, the only functional fire operations are in Port Harcourt, noting that, ”we are making concerted efforts to complete Rumudomanya, Degema, Ahoada and Borokiri stations”.

Meanwhile, The Commissioner stated that a bill to promote emergency regulation is  on the floor of the House of Assembly as it plans to convene a stakeholders forum to chart fresh course in the sub-sector.