By Adadareporters
Traders at various markets in Enugu North senatorial zone of Enugu State, Thursday, commended Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for building fire service stations at strategic areas of the zone.
According to them, the initiative informed the proactive responses of Enugu State Fire Service whenever there are fire occurrences at markets and other places.
The state chief fire officer, Engr Daniel Ohaa, had earlier told Adadareporters.com that, “The Ugwuanyi administration has constructed five more fire stations located at Ogrute in Igboeze North LGA; Orba in Udenu LGA; Oji River and 9th Mile as well as at Four Corner in Nkanu West LGA. This is in addition to the already existing ones at Ogui Road, Nsukka located after the main gate of the University of Nigeria; Government House, Timber Shed, Ogbete, Idaw River, in addition to our mobile unit and the headquarters.”
In a reaction, Dr Mrs Ngozika Ozioko, chairman, Ogige Market Traders’ Association, said, “I want to appreciate Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi for equipping the fire service agency at Nsukka and the state in general. The service also fumigated our premises during the Covid-19 to ensure that we operate in a hygienic environment. Presently the agency equipped us with fire fighting equipment.”
A trader at Orba, Ngozi Apeh, said, “No one knows the importance of these fire stations until there is a fire outbreak. It happened at our area sometime ago, and it took just about ten minutes for the state fire service to intervene. It would have been terrible. Glory to Gov Ugwuanyi.”
Chief Emeka Ukwuaba, former commissioner for public utilities in Enugu State, said, “My ministry supervised the state fire service before Gov Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi came on board. The service got so bad that by the time the military was handing over to the civilian in 1999, the state fire service virtually had no operational vehicles to attack fire.
“But today, under Gov Ugwuanyi, the state fire stations rose to about nine from two or three that never worked optimally. I like to give one example: some months ago, a big market was gutted by fire at Ogrute. Because of the proximity of a brand new fire station to that market, within minutes, the fire was put out. You can guess what would have happened if the fire service were not there. Gov Ugwuanyi spread such stations across the state to complement old ones.”
For Harry Ede, “Ironically, people say Gov Ugwuanyi hasn’t done much for our people and the state in general. He is the first governor that had devoted such attention to the real need of our people.”
