The Benue State government has commenced the distribution of fire extinguishers and enforcement of their usage in homes and public places.

Governor Hyacinth Alia, while launching the project on Sunday in Makurdi, said “The Nigeria Fire Extinguisher Sticker (NFES)” project was to control fire and ensure prompt response to any fire incident.

Mr Alia explained that the project has provision for the servicing of fire extinguishers as part of efforts to ensure safety and generate employment.

Represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Joseph Alakali, Mr Alia said over 10,000 sustainable employment would be provided under the project.

“It will control situations in which fire extinguishers fail at the point of usage, enable arrest and prosecution of fake and wicked servicing vendors who fill fire extinguisher cylinders with cassava flour, which increases fire instead of quenching it at the most critical point of usage.

“It will prevent the use of fire extinguisher cylinders for drug trafficking, terrorism and other crimes.

“The process of distribution, servicing and enforcement will provide over 10,000 sustainable employment opportunities. The service will boost the state’s internally generated revenue and block economic loopholes,” he said.

The governor described the project as another rebirth and retooling of the state fire service to effectively deliver its mandate of fire prevention, response and investigation.

“To achieve this task, we have reached out to stakeholders in every sector, of which fire safety management is one,” he said.

Benson Olatunji, the national coordinator of the Nigeria Fire Extinguisher Sticker (NFES) concessionaire and N-Alert Technical partner, Ministry of Interior, said the project would be launched in all States and the FCT.

Mr Olatunji said Benue State was chosen to pioneer the project in collaboration with the state Bureau of Entrepreneurship and Wealth Creation, the Bureau of Internal Affairs (Fire Department Unit), and the Office of the Special Adviser on Security.

“The objective of the programme is to sensitise the public on the importance of the multiple uses of fire extinguishers,” he said.

(NAN)