From Attah Ede, Makurdi

The Benue State Government has commenced the distribution of fire extinguishers and enforcement of its usage in homes and public places across the State.

Governor Hyacinth Alia, while launching the project on Sunday in Makurdi, said ‘The Nigeria Fire Extinguisher Sticker (NFES)’ project was meant to control fire and ensure prompt response to any fire incident.

Alia explained that the project has provision for the servicing of fire extinguishers as part of efforts to not only ensure safety, but also generate employment.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Prof Joseph Alakali, Alia said over 10,000 sustainable employment would be provided under the project.

“It will control situations in which fire extinguishers fail at point of usage. Enable arrest and prosecution of fake and wicked servicing vendors who fill fire extinguisher cylinders with cassava flour which increases fire instead of quenching it at the most critical point of usage.

“It will prevent the use of fire extinguisher cylinders for drug trafficking, terrorism and other crime.

“The process of distribution, servicing and enforcement will provide over 10,000 sustainable employment opportunities. The service will boost the state Internally-generated revenue and block economic loopholes,” he said.

The governor described the project as another rebirth and retooling of the State Fire Service to effectively deliver its mandate of fire prevention, response and investigation.

“To achieve this task, we have reached out to stakeholders in every sector of which fire safety management is one.

As universally said and agreed ‘’Safety First’’. The fire safety sector is one of the most critical sectors of the state and national economy.

“Fire vulnerability of any society grows directly proportional to its development. As your income increases, so your choice of furniture and electronics increases.

“Similarly, our society has a lot of fake electronic, electrical cables, low quality cooking gas cylinders and a lot of other fake products including fire extinguishers. These fake products can be difficult to distinguish from the original ones in the market.

“As a fulfilment of my promise during election and delivery of practical solutions towards the safety of our people, today Benue State is breaking another record of being the first state in Nigeria to flag-off Nigeria Fire Extinguisher Sticker (NFES) project.” he said

National Coordinator, Nigeria Fire Extinguisher Sticker (NFES) concessionaire and N- Alert Technical partner, Ministry of Interior, Benson Olatunji, said the project would be launched in all States and the FCT.

Olatunji said Benue State was chosen to pioneer the project in collaboration with the state Bureau of Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation, the Bureau of Internal Affairs (Fire Department Unit), and Office of the Special Adviser on Security.

“The objective of the programme is to sensitize the public on the importance of the multiple uses of fire extinguishers.

“The project is a practical demonstration of the whole societal approach to national strategy involving all government security outfits to collaborate to solve internal security and public safety problems.

“Amongst the many benefits of the programme, is the job creation angle where over 1,200 Benue youth were shortlisted and employed immediately as ad-hoc staff who will be employed as career fire service officers at the end of their training.

“Also pertinent to note is that this is the first programme ever to employ such a large number of Benue indigenes across the 23 Local Government Areas in a single exercise in the State,” he said.

He said the project would also boost the Internally-generated revenue of the State with annual estimated projections of over N1.6 billion.

According to him, the programme would also boost inter and intra governmental collaboration between the Federal and State Governments.

He commended the governor for his total support for the project.