Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara has assured that Rivers residents his administration would use everything at their disposal to protect them from painful loss of lives and property due to fire outbreaks.
Fubara noted that the negative experience of moribund state fire service as experienced under previous administrations would no longer brought alot of sorrow the Rivers people.
The Governor gave disclosed this today, Tuesday, March 4, 2025 during the commissioning of the remodelled Rivers State Fire Service headquarters at Mile 1 Port Harcourt with two other upgraded stations up for commissioning in the coming days.
The governor told stakeholders, “We are all aware of our situation. Years back we were at the mercy of multinationals when faced with fire incidences. These incidences recorded huge losses in our homes and market places.”
He emphasised that the State lost Mile 1 and Fruit Garden Markets due to inability to respond to emergency adequately, adding, that homes and lives were also lost in the State because of inefficient fire service.
According to him, “Days ago, a tanker fell along the Woji/Elelenwo Road. If it were before, lives would have been lost. But immediately the incident, the Fire Service, not multinationals, the State Fire Service responded and arrested the situation.”
“I read that the purpose of governance is just one thing, to make the people happy. I believe strongly, even as some persons are bent on discrediting us, Rivers people are happy, and that is the most important thing.
The governor noted that by upgrading the state fire response infrastructure with well built Fire Fighting Stations, the operations staffs’ morale have also been boosted.
He stated, “We can see they are back to life. Imagine a government that has a fire service stations and the men manning there are not working but at the end of the month you pay their salaries for being unproductive.
“Today they are happy, they have a big responsibility now ahead of them to ensure that lives and property of the people of Rivers State are adequately protected. I thank you for this new spirit.”
The governor noted that this is one of the numerous things he swore on May 29, 2023, to protect the lives of the people, defend the constitution and ensure basic amenities are provided without bias to the good people of Rivers State.
He charged the members of staff of the State Fire Service to realize that with the provision of the facility the lives of Rivers people have been entrusted on them as they are expected to maintain and ensure the optimal performance of the facilities, adding, “So take risk as a personal assignment. I cannot reward you but only the good Lord will pay you for your sacrifices.”
Gov. Fubara explained that, “We deliberately remodeled the three of them, this particular one is in the heart of Port Harcourt and GRA axis to protect issues of fire within the Diobu axis, Mile 1 and Mile 2 including Mile 3.
He further stated that the one that will be commissioned in a few days at Rumuodomaya is to take care of Rumuokoro, down to UNIPORT axis and the one in the Town area is to cater for the densely populated Port Harcourt town area.
The Commissioner for Special Duties, Dr. Samuel Anya commended Gov Siminalayi Fubara for embarking on the first renovation and remodeling of the State Fire Service Station after it was built in 1960.
He said the headquarters of the Fire Service Stations now has some facilities to include a gym, and sick Bay, stressing that in time past the State depended on multinationals to tackle fire emergencies.
On his part the Head of Local Government Administration in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area, Mr. Clifford N. Paul thanked the governor for his strategic development investment especially in the State Fire Service to swiftly respond to fire emergencies.
He noted that the accomplishment of the remodeling of the headquarters of the Fire Service Station is a demonstration of the power of vision to transform every sector of the State economy by the governor.
