RSG Decries Attack On Firefighters …Pledges Continuous Synergy With Federal Fire Service

Rivers State Commissioner for Special Duties, Hon. Ndubuisi Okere, has expressed displeasure over the attack of fire fighters and the vandalisation of their equipment by certain elements in the state, warning that henceforth, such evil would not be condoned and perpetrators would be made to face the music.
Okere, who made gave the warning in his office, last Friday, while playing host to the commandant of Federal Fire Service in the state, said the government would not fold its arms and watch enemies of the state take laws into their hands.
He said that firefighting was an overwhelming assignment, and that though the state fire service was combat-ready at all times to fight fire in the state, the government still cherished and enjoyed robust support and synergy from the federal firefighters.
He added that in a cosmopolitan city like Port Harcourt, only one fire unit may not be adequate to handle the incidences that may arise.
Okere enjoined the firefighters to take advantage of the massively built roads and flyovers in the state to hasten their movements to scenes of fire outbreak, whenever they received such calls.
He promised to relay their request for more robust synergy and assistance to the state governor, who he hoped would come to their aid.
Earlier in his remarks, the state Commandant of Federal Fire Service, DCF Abdul A. Alfa, said he was in the office of the commissioner to introduce himself, and to thank the government of the state for the synergy and understanding they have been sharing over the years.
He called on the state government to support the Federal Fire Service in the state to save lives and property of Rivers people and those who live and do business in the state.
The commandant, however, said that he was not happy with some motorists who usually refused to give right of way to firefighting trucks that were on emergency movementto save lives and property.
Alfa said between January and November, 2022, his men had helped to fight 131 fire cases in the state, with about N2.3billion to victims, admonishing that residents and witnesses to fire incidence should help firemen put out fire, rather than attacking the firemen and vandalising their equipment.
The commandant pledged the readiness and willingness of his men to tackle every fire case in the state.