As part of effort to avoid repetition of fire incidents recorded during last harmattan period, a member of the Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olagoke Olumide Akinajo has called on relevant stakeholders to embark on sensitization programmes ahead of the dry season to avoid possible fire outbreaks.
Hon. Akinajo, who is representing Ibadan North East state constituency 1, in his motion “Need for Oyo State Government to Commence Campaign on Safety Measures Against Possible Fire Outbreaks in the State During Dry Season” and seconded by Hon. Fatai Oyekunle, disclosed that the state has recorded several fire outbreaks that have destroyed goods and properties worth billions of naira.
The Chairman, Committee on Inter-parliamentary Relations recalled that incidents of Akesan, Orita-Aperin and Shasha Markets fire outbreaks are still fresh in the memories of the people of the state.
“Traders at Orita- Aperin Market in Ibadan North East Local Government, in my constituency also experienced this ugly incident caused by fire outbreak, many of the victims are yet to recover even after one year, because they are financially restrained to start all over again.
“We are almost in another dry season and the state government, under Governor Seyi Makinde has already bought Fire Combating equipment but still, we need to put our preventive measures in top gear in terms of sensitization and creating awareness to ensure that people and the general public are alert and more conscious of the situation this time,” Hon. Akinajo said.
The lawmaker urged the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to educate the people on hazards associated with indiscriminate bush and waste burning and use of bangers and other explosive items in the name of Christmas and New Year celebrations.
The Speaker of the House, Hon. Adebo Ogundoyin, while passing the resolution, urged the Oyo State Fire Service to at all times be ready to tackle any fire outbreaks especially during this harmattan period by making sure that their firefighting trucks are road worthy and loaded with water.
The House also urged the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism to start visiting markets across the state for sensitization on how to prevent fire outbreak especially during the dry season and provide them with fire extinguishers.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
