How We Called The Emergency Room of Nasarawa Fire Service For Over 2 Hours As Inferno Destroyed 7 Rooms In A House–Neighbor Tell Journalists

Rabiu Omaku

An eyewitness and Chief Imam to a mosque which was a few feet away from a compound engulfed in inferno as a result of instability in power supply in Doma Local Government recently told Journalists that all efforts to call the emergency number of the State Fire Service were an exercise in futility because no help comes to the victims.

The entire neighborhood was in pandemonium as the family lost 7 rooms and other valuables due to electricity facial contact, A neighbor, Mallam Tanko Ogye in an exclusive interview apportioned blame to the Abuja Electricity Distribution Company for the erratic power supply.

Tanko said the State Government should do something urgent by providing fire fighting vehicles to the 13 Local Governments as well as Development Areas to avert such occurrence in any part of the State.

The State Director of Nasarawa State Fire Service, Builder Ombugus Joshua in an interview with selected Journalists declined to comment on the matter, a victim told Journalists that one of the staff on duty opened up that the Fire Service is handicapped due to bad operational vehicle and lack of fuel for the only defective truck that may breakdown any moment.

It was reliably gathered that Doma and Nasarawa Eggon Local Governments are the most affected places followed by the Keffi Local Government.

An officer who pleaded anonymity confirmed that the major constraints of the State Fire Service were the absence of operational vehicles, staff deficit as well poor funding ranging from releases for the fueling of few operational vehicles.

Information available to Universal Reporters Online confirmed that the delay mostly is from the mother ministry, Which is the Ministry of Works and Transport to repair, service as well fueled operational vehicles in terms of emergency calls.

A competent source hinted that bureaucracy in the ministry jeopardized the morale of the entire fire service staff who were ready to work but ended up being disappointed.

It was gathered that the State Fire Service was comatose even before the coming of the new State Director, Bulder Ombugus Joshua, who was appointed by Engineer Abdullahi Sule recently following the retirement of the then-female Director.

It could be recalled that the Nasarawa State House of Assembly, has declared a State of emergency on the State Fire Service, Urging the State Governor to do something urgent in other to save the situation.

This position was made known when Hon.Hajara Danyaro (APC) representing Nasarawa Central raised the issue under a matter of public interest, appealing to the leadership of the House to bring succor to people of Nasarawa Local Government who lost farm produce and other valuables in a fire incident that engulfed Nasarawa Central market.

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The female lawmaker affirmed that valuables including beniseed, rice, and yam were lost in the fire incident, Also Hon.Musa Ibrahim, lawmaker (NNPP) Doma South Constituency seconded the motion, Calling on the State Government to do the needful.

He raised an eyebrow over the absence of a firefighting station in the State Assembly and other key offices in the State, Universal Reporters Online Correspondent who went around the State capital discovered that the operational vehicle of the State fire service in the seat of power is in comatose.

Other offices that did not have a Fire Service station also include, The Deputy Governor’s office, The Ministries along Jos Road, The SSG’s office, The College of Agriculture, Science and Technology, Lafia, College of Sciences, Lafia, COAST, Keffi, been a tertiary institution, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Lafia amongst others like College of Education, Akwanga.

Also, an expert from the Lafia office of AEDC who spoke to Journalists attributed the outbreak of the inferno to human error but not due to unstable power supply rather said it may be due to illegal connection and choices of wearing materials by developers

Urging developers to use approved wires and electrical installations to avoid outbreaks of fire incidents at all times.

All efforts to talk to the Commissioner for Works and Transport hit a brick wall when journalists visited the ministry, A Director in the Ministry confirmed that everything in the Fire Service was grounded to a halt ranging from staff strength, logistics, and otherwise.

The Press Secretary to the Speaker, Jibrin Gwamna could not be reached at Press time to know the position of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly on the resolution taken.