The Nation Newspaper

Tag: fire-fighters

  • Shell trains Abia fire-fighters

    Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG) has retrained 30 fire-fighters in  Abia State and donated fire-fighting equipment to the state fire service. This intervention was triggered by two recent fire disasters in the state, which resulted in deaths and loss of property worth millions of naira.

    Over 150 shops in the timber and furniture section of the Nkwo Ngwa Market in Aba was gutted by fire mid-November, barely five weeks after an explosion on a pipeline belonging to the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in Umuaduru and Umuimo communities of the state killed a number of people.

    The SNG intervention, according the company’s Managing Director, Ed Ubong, was to demonstrate the company’s continued care for the people and support to Nigerians particularly those in the company’s areas of operations.

    “Some of these disasters are either avoidable or preventable. The major gaps are in training and equipment, hence our quick response to retrain the firefighters and provide them with modern equipment to support their operations,” Ubong said, adding that SNG would strengthen its gas distribution network in the Abia State to help in its rapid industrialisation.

    The equipment donated included tunics and personal protective equipment (PPE). The state’s Commissioner for Transport, Charles Chinedum Elechi, received the items with a commitment that the state would improve on its safety record in a manner that would promote industrialisation and development.

    Speaking at the donation, the state’s Fire Service Comptroller, Victor Gbaruko, described the training of his personnel, particularly in hydrocarbon fire-fighting, as an investment worthy of emulation by other big players in the state’s economy.

    The 20-year-old SNG is owned by Shell and is the first gas distribution company run by any oil major in Nigeria. SNG’s extensive gas distribution network in Abia, Ogun and Rivers states has boosted manufacturing output and helped these states to grow their internally generated revenues while providing local employment opportunities.

    In 2017, the SNG executed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)with the Rivers State government for the distribution of gas to industries in the Greater Port Harcourt area and its environs. The agreement provided further opportunities for the SNG to promote gas as more reliable, cleaner and cost-effective alternative to liquid fuels in Nigeria.

  • Sanusi, Olubadan to govt: stop using monarchs as ‘fire fighters’

    The Emir of Kano, Muhammadu Sanusi II and the Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Saliu Adetunji have urged the Federal Government to assign traditional rulers participatory roles in decision and policy-making processes.

    The two foremost monarchs said the days of politicians using traditional rulers to get what they wanted were gone.

    According to them, the Federal Government must desist from using traditional rulers as “fire fighters”.

    They spoke yesterday in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, when the Emir visited the Olubadan at his palace.

    Sanusi, who expressed delight at his first visit to the Olubadan since his enthronement over two years ago, prayed for longevity and sound health for the 90-year-old monarch.

    The Emir said the Olubadan is a unique personality.

    He called for greater roles for traditional rulers in governance to make the country attain greater heights.

    Recalling the giant strides of some industrious sons of Ibadan in the development of the ancient city, the Emir praised the late Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao and the late Ibadan politician, Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu (aka Penkelemess) for their immense contributions to the growth and development of Ibadan.

    Oba Adetunji urged the Federal Government to accord dignified roles to monarchs in the governance of the country.

    The Olubadan, who spoke through one of his chiefs, the Agbaakin Olubadan of Ibadan, Oloye Lekan Alabi, described the role of traditional rulers as crucial to peace, development and unification of ethnic nationalities that formed the entity.

    He said: “I thank you for remembering the memories of Adegoke Adelabu and Aare Musulumi of Yoruba land, Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao, two great sons of Ibadan. I want to mention that Ibadan is also a city of commerce, like Kano; a city of the valiant and people of courage, hospitality and vision, too numerous to mention.

    “I thank you also for mentioning the former Executive Director of First Bank and Deputy Director of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the All Progressives Congress governorship candidate, Chief Adebayo Adelabu, who is the grandson of one of Nigeria’s earliest nationalists, Alhaji Adegoke Adelabu, Penkelemess, Nigeria’s first Federal Minister of Natural Resources, Social Welfare.

    “As you have said, Your Highness, you will continue to wax strong and strong by the grace of God. Your Highness, you also mentioned one of the resolutions at the last meeting of the National Council of Traditional Rulers in Abuja. I was fortunate to attend the last meeting and the previous one by the grace of the Olubadan. One of the resolutions was the point you raised that traditional rulers should serve not only advisory roles but also participatory roles in policy making and decisions.

    “It was discussed in Abuja that traditional rulers should not be turned to fire fighters.  When there is need for political leadership to get to the people, they will turn to palaces.

    “When they want to do a national consensus, like population census, like vaccinations, then they will go to palaces, they will turn to the kabiyesi, emirs, obis and so on to reach the people. So, that is also noted…”

  • Belemaoil trains 33 fire fighters in Rivers

    An indigenous oil and gas producing company in Port Harcourt,  the Rivers State capital, yesterday issued certification to 33 men trained in fire-fighting skill.

    The one-month training conducted by TDI Global Consult,  a North American based fire fighting company, was part of its corporate social responsibility to its host communities.

    Speaking to reporters after a fire fighting demonstration by the trainees at Belemaoil jetty in Port Harcourt yesterday,  the fire chief training officer of TDI,  Gary Eve said,  the training was meant to give the trainees the basic fire fighting skill, and confirmed that by the demonstration technic they exhibited at the demonstration,  they have understood the basics in fire fighting methodology.

    Eve said:  “This is the basic way to respond to  normal fire outbreak in the garage,  side of the road,  general small degree outbreak anywhere.

    “The skills the trainees displayed in the demonstration exercise is basically fire attack skill,  changing of host starting and the technic of pumping water from one a standby fire equipment to the other without disrupting the process that is on course.”

    He expressed satisfaction with the trainees and the timeframe it took them to put out the burn-fire, describing it as standard.

    In a pre-certification appraisal,  Eve assured that the 33 trainees were capable of attacking and arresting any fire outbreak , using the state- of -the- art equipment used in the demonstration.

    The Executive Vice President of the company,  Mrs.  Rosemary Asiegbu, urged the trainees to take the skill they have acquired seriously,  and determine to put it into use to better their families.

    Mrs Asiegbu said:   ”You are the few selected ones,  getting a Company  from North America to come and train you in this noble profession.

    “Fire fighting is a challenging job, a lot is expected of you, physically,  mentally and spiritually. Fire fighting is a serious job, to the point that you will always be prepared at all times. You will be expected to be prepared and be fit all the time.

    “Whether you are on duty or out of duty, you must always be prepared,  because something might come up and those on duty might not be able to cope automatically you will be coopted to be in charge.

    “Again fire fighting is a multifaceted job that involves not just arresting burning fire,  but other rescue jobs that could see them jump from tall heights.”

    She noted hailed the decision of the President and Founder of Belemaoil, Tien Jack-Rich Jr.,  to engage a  competent company for the training.

  • Fire fighters save girl, 5, from well

    Fire fighters save girl, 5, from well

    Lagos State Fire Service has rescued a five-year-old girl, Faith Onifade, from an 80 foot deep well, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.
    Its Director Mr Rasak Fadipe, told NAN yesterday that, the incident happened on Boxing Day around 5.30 p.m. at 1, Church Street, Omiata Bus Stop, Agbeleke, Meiran in Ifako-Ijaiye Council Area of the state.
    “On Monday, the Boxing Day, we rescued a five-year-old female child, Faith Onifade, who fell into a well of about 80 feet deep; she was rescued alive with no serious injuries,” Fadipe said.
    He advised parents to always monitor their children, especially those who reside near open wells.

  • N1.5m gone as fire razes six shops in Aba

    Shop owners at 20 Park Road, Aba, Abia State, on Monday night, lost over N1 million when a fire razed the building in which the shops were located.

    It was learnt that the timely intervention of fire-fighters from the State Fire Service saved the fire from spreading to adjoining buildings.

    Eyewitnesses said the fire started from a boutique and spread to the other shops and other parts of the building.

    A technician and one of the victims, Mr. Ogbonna Ukwuije, said he lost air-conditioners, refrigerators among other property. He said he was alerted to the incident around 2am and rushed to the area to see his shop being reduced to rubbles.

    Ukwuije said: “My phone rang around 2am. The caller told me that my shop was on fire. Before I could get to the place, everything had been burnt. The fire was intense. I could not salvage anything.

    “The air-conditioners and refrigerators I was repairing as well as those on sale are all gone. I don’t know where to go from here. I’m confused because I don’t know what to tell my customers.

    “I am also calling on the state government to equip the fire service because if they had more than one engine, we would not have recorded such a huge loss.”

    Ukwuije urged the government and sympathetic individuals to assist him because he lost everything he had “worked for in the fire.”

    Another victim, who sells refrigerators, freezers and air-conditioners, Okechukwu Nwakaozo, said he lost his stock as well as documents.

    He appealed to the authorities and individuals to assist to recover parts of his loss.

    The Director of the State Fire Service, Victor Gbaruko, said his men noticed the fire from their office and rushed to the scene.

    He said the fire fighters stopped the fire from spreading to adjoining buildings.

    The fire chief noted that the absence of a supporting fire engine handicapped the fire fighters from easily putting out the inferno.

    Gbaruko said: “If we had a supporting fire engine we would not lose any building to the fire, no matter the strength of the fire. Our problem is that by the time we get back to the station to refill and refill, the fire would have wreaked more havoc.”