To prevent fire breakouts, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) Rivers Command has issued a warning against keeping petroleum products in residences.
The warning was given by the command’s commandant, Michael Ogar, in a statement released by the command’s spokesperson, DSC Olufemi Ayodele, on Thursday in Port Harcourt.
When the partnership agreement between the command and the Federal Fire Service to educate NSCDC personnel in fire fighting was being signed, Ogar made the remark.
“The people needs to stand up and take ownership of their behavior, especially during the holiday and harmattan seasons.
“People must realize that prevention is preferable to treatment, and as a result, they must cease keeping gasoline in their homes and cars to stop fires from starting,” he stated.
The corps will punish individuals who diverted the product to create fake shortages, the commander reportedly warned.
According to Ogar, the purpose of the training is to give employees the fundamental knowledge they need to respond to fire incidents successfully.
“For emergency reaction, some of the fire extinguishers have been placed at our Iriebe and Ogbogoro Exhibit Yards, while others are stationed at the command’s headquarters.
“People must exercise caution,” he continued, “given that lives and homes valued at millions of dollars have been lost to fire disasters as a result of carelessness and incompetence.”
The NSCDC commandant urged owners of buildings including schools, malls, and flats to install firefighting apparatus so that they can respond quickly to crises involving fire.
He claims that the command will crack down on gas stations that sell petroleum products above the authorized pump price and on people who stockpile the stuff.
Abdullahi Alfa, the Commander of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) in Rivers, stated in his speech that the collaboration would be advantageous to both security organizations.
Ihia Juliet spoke on behalf of Alfa, who stated that the NSCDC would protect firefighters in times of need.
He asked Nigerians to adopt the culture of installing fire fighting equipment because “fire prevention is much better than fire fighting.”
Drivers who operate vehicles without fire extinguishers installed are breaking the law, he continued.
