Just yesterday morning, another tanker fully loaded with 33,000 litres of PMS fell along Ugwu Onyeama by Enugu-Onitsha Expressway. The Enugu State Fire Service was contacted and the firefighting body led by its Chief Fire Officer, Okwudili Oha, immediately moved to the scene with the fire service team and successfully dampened the truck and averted the possible explosion. Arrangements were made speedily to trans-load the product.It will surprise one to know that this second reported incident came barely two days after a similar tanker carrying petrol spoilt at the junction of the New Artisan market, Enugu. To avoid telling the story that touches the heart, Enugu State Fire Service arrived in full force and validated the fact that prevention is better than cure.
If you can recall, Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State recently directed the state fire service to reassess its emergency response capabilities given the onset of the dry season and the need to ensure the safety of lives and property should there be any fire outbreak.
A statement recently signed by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof. Simon Uchenna Ortuanya, who said the directive became necessary given the need to take measures that would forestall deaths and destruction of property from unexpected fire outbreaks.
The governor also directed the Fire Service to visit disaster-prone locations, such as markets, housing estates, satellite towns, suburbs, and review their challenges that could be associated with accessing the areas.
He said fire service should put in place safety measures including access roads into and within the disaster-prone areas to enhance maximum response to an emergency. “Fire service should meet with the leadership of market unions and other relevant stakeholders in the course of this all-important assignment,” Prof. Ortuanya said.
There is still hope for Nigeria with Gov. Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi’s swift emergency measures in Enugu State.
