Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has inaugurated the Rivers State Fire Service Headquarters Station, located by Isaac Boro Park Flyover, in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area.
The governor emphasized that modernized fire-fighting units with new buildings, necessary machinery, materials, and equipment will strengthen personnel’s emergency response capability to fire incidents in the state.
According to Governor Fubara, the provision would drastically reduce, if not eliminate, the vulnerability of the Rivers population to fire disasters. He also noted that timely assistance will be provided to victims to reduce damage and bolster conditions for sustainable development.
The governor explained that in the past, the state relied on multinationals with functional fire trucks to respond to most fire incidences. He cited the loss of the Mile One Market and the Fruit Garden Market due to inadequate fire service.
Governor Fubara stated, “We lost the Mile One Market because we couldn’t respond adequately. We lost, even what we call the Fruit Garden Market because we could not respond. Are we talking about houses and lives that have been lost in this state because of inadequate fire service?”
He emphasized that the purpose of governance is to provide quality social services, protect lives and property, and make living comfortable for the people.