Deborah Odoh

Enugu South Local Government Council Boss; Hon. Caleb Onyemechi Ani, ably represented by the Deputy Mayor Hon. Anthony Egbo and the Secretary to the Local Goverment , Hon. Kenneth Inyamah has advised the public, expecailly the indigents of Enugu South Local Government Council, to adopt different preventive safety measures of fire outbreak to safeguard lives and properties.

He made the assertion in an interactive public sensitization program of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) held on 13th of December 2024 at Enugu South Local Government Headquarter Uwani .

The sensitization program commenced with a public awareness walk around the streets of Uwani led by the Southeast Zonal Coordinator, Ngozi Echeazu to inform the public on the NEMA’s mission and business of the day which was to promote fire safety measures in order to reduce the frequency and impact of fire incidents in the State.

In her speech, Mrs. Echeazu disclosed that about three hundred and twelve fire incidents that destroyed good and properties worth millions of naira were recorded in different parts of Enugu State last year. “Everyone is an emergency manager ,so it is important to get the citizenry acquainted with the Prerequisite skills on combating fire disaster in cases of emergency” she added.

During his elaborate speech on fire disaster management and control, the Federal fire Service Officer , Ikor David identified fire outbreak causes as ignorance, accident and human intentional act. He mentioned the three elements that causes fire outbreak as Fuel, Heat, Oxygen and the major three controls as Oxygen removal through use of wet towel or blanket, use of sharp dry sand and the use of fire extinguisher.

The State Fire Service Officer , Eneje Oforma illustrated how to use the fire extinguisher and identified the two different types as CO2 (carbon dioxide) and Dry Chemical Powder which he said comes in different sizes. He also thought on the maintenance mechanism of different fire extinguisher.

In a dramatic style, the Nigeria Red Cross Society Officer, Mrs. Eucheria Onwuegbuna illustrated the first aid treatment to administer to fire burnt patient. She disclosed that it is medically wise to cool the temperature by pouring ordinary water on a burnt skin than apply salt or oil as generally believed. She also talked extensively on the first, second and third degrees of fire burn on skin, treatment and implications.

In his closing remark, Hon. Inyamah applauded NEMA and other safeguarding agencies for their efforts and for choosing Enugu South for the training. He maintained that the safety awareness will boost the knowledge of the public on the best way s to combating the menace if it eventually occur. ” Safety is everyone’s business and everyone is an emergency manager as pointed out here. therefore, encourage you take charge of the safety of your environment put in practice all the positive measures you learnt today to ensure safety anywhere you are” he concluded.

The NEMA propounded sensitization/ training program was spear-carried by the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Officer, Mrs.Chiamaka Mba and the Local Government Emergency Management Agency (LEMA) Officer , Mr. Emeka Oko, it attracted large audience from the local government , party stakeholders and distinguished officials from other safety prioritize agencies such The Nigeria Road Safety Corps, The Nigeria Red Cross Society, The Federal and State Fire Service and The Police Community Relation Committee (P C R C).

Some of the attendees and members of PCRC that asked vital questions are the Secretary, Nigeria Union Of Journalists, NUJ Enugu Chapter ,Dame Ifeoma Amuta ( Ada did ora mma), Barr.Angela Adili, and Mrs.Lilian Agbo.