As part of deliberate efforts aimed at combating fire outbreak in the state, Delta State Government says it would procure 17 brand new foreign customised fire fighting trucks to boost the operational activities of the State Fire Service.
The Commissioner, Bureau for Special Duties, Dr Tony Nwaka disclosed this while presenting the mid-term report of the activities of the Bureau in the ongoing Ministerial Press Briefing at the Unity Hall, Government House, Asaba.
Nwaka said that the fire fighting trucks which the state intends to procure in the next three years, would be distributed to each of the 17 functional fire service stations in the state.
According to him, the Bureau intends to construct a befitting fire service headquarters at Asaba within the next two years "as the current headquarters of the service located at the old secretariat has been very un-conducive for effective fire fighting".
He added that the Bureau also intends to purchase some fire fighting boats that would be deployed to the riverine areas of the state.
While saying that government intends to renovate all the dilapidated fire service stations and construct some water hydrants across the state in the next two years, the commissioner disclosed that the Bureau hopes to facilitate the sponsorship of over 3,000 pilgrims to the Holy Land for Christians and Moslems in the next two years.
He disclosed that the Bureau had sponsored a total number of 5,604 Christian pilgrims and 396 Moslem pilgrims to the Holy Land in Israel and Arabia respectively between 2007 and 2013 to enhance the spiritual edification of Deltans.
However, Nwaka listed the challenges confronting the Bureau to include lack of conducive office accommodation for the fire service department and other agencies under the Bureau; inadequate fire fighting trucks, water tankers/boats and ambulances; insufficient fire service stations, manpower shortage, and inadequate budgetary problem.
