By: Imo Thomas -Umuahia.
The state government has stressed the need for every household to have a fire extinguisher and directed that there is going to be enforcement of compulsory fire extinguisher in all households in the state.
The Governor of Abia state,Dr. Alex otti, gave this directive when he paid on the spot visit during the weekend to commiserate with residents of No.73 Lagos street off Ngwa road Aba, on the fire incidence that engulfed the second floor of their two storey building destroying property worth millions of Naira.
Governor Otti, directed the Senior Special Assistant on Homeland Security to carry out an investigation to find out what actually led to the inferno.
He stressed the need for every household to have a fire extinguisher, and directed that henceforth, there is going to be enforcement of compulsory fire extinguisher in all households.
The State Chief Executive, regretted the report that the phone numbers of the Fire Service men at Aba were switched off and
further directed that a thorough investigation should be conducted to ascertain why the phone numbers were off during the such emergency.
“Its quite unfortunate, the thing is that investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the inferno. Whether it’s a natural occurrence of some sort or one was careless .
“What we have to learn is that everyone should have fire extinguisher, if you had fire extinguisher, you would have been able to put off the fire.
“It’s quite unfortunate that the fire service could not come on time, normally they arrive within ten minutes, I’m surprised the way this one turned out.
“I have directed them to do a thorough investigation to ascertain why the phone numbers of fire service officers was off during the fire outbreak.
“They are not supposed to put off their phone. It’s really sad that it happened. The destruction is really unfortunate, but since it has happened, there is nothing anybody can do about it.
” I need to get a report about the fire service officers and why their phones were put off and this whole place burnt down completely.
“We spent a lot of money to equip them, buying them vehicles. In the past, they have responded very quickly and effectively, but unfortunately, this one, they didn’t,” Gov. Otti regretted.
He urged the victims to take heart and assured that government would help them reduce the effect of the lost on them as well as support them get an alternative accommodation and equally thank God that no life was lost.
