• Amid escalating fire disasters.
• Victim;Usen Nkamare speaks of loss of 10million naira worth of furniture to fire.
• In 2022 alone, over 33 fire incidences have occurred in Uyo Metropolis.
• Udom Emmanuel-led administration for the past 7 years has not priotized Fire safety and response.
• Throughout 2015 -2017, there has been Zero Releases for capital Projectsfor the Fire service.

 

Digging into AkwaIbom’s budget for 7 years (2015-2017), Inspiration FM’s senior correspondent, IMA DEM establishes that there is a noticeablepattern in the budget for the state Fire Service’s capital projects. For the 7 year period, facilities, Fire fighting equipment and gears were consistently budgeted for, a facility like the Water hydrant and Elevated Project resurfaces every year.

 

In spite of how critical the water hydrant is to the functionality of the Fire agency, there hasn’t been release of funds for it.

 

There is an obvious need to improve the state of the Fire Service in Akwa Ibom considering that without the presence of the Federal Fire Service, the situation would have been more dire.

 

AkwaIbom’s state Fire Service Public Relations Officer, EMMANUEL UDOFIA says 99% of Fire outbreaks in Uyo are tackled with the Federal Fire service doing most of the work because they have more capacity.

 

Despite the capacity shown by the Federal Fire Service, Mrs Ofonmbuk Nelson, the parastatal’s Commandant and 2IC in AkwaIbom says their operations are hampered due to the lack of a Water Hydrant for refilling of the water tank.

 

Other Items that appear on the budget are rehabilitation of the State Fire Service headquarters, equipping of Fire stations in Eket, Ibeno, Itu, Etinan, Abak, Ikot Ekpene and other Local Government areas, repair of old engines amongst other projects.

A visit to the Fire Headquarters will give you the creeps, as there is a reflection of outright neglect of this very important Government establishment saddled with the responsibility of responding to fire emergencies and other disasters in AkwaIbom.

 

Do take a Listen to the report 👇

AKS FIRE SERVICE SPECIAL REPORT DEC 20

AMID FIRE EMERGENCIES, AKWA IBOM GOVERNMENT STARVES FIRE SERVICE OF FUNDS!