Sanjo Adedoyin urges Makinde to establish more fire stations across Oyo state*

The majority leader of Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Sanjo Adedoyin Onaolapo, has urged the executive arm of government to establish more fire stations across Oyo state.

During a plenary session presided by Deputy Speaker Hon. Muhammad Fadeyi on Tuesday, Adedoyin, who represents the Ogbomoso South Constituency, made the call while moving a motion on the floor of the House.

The motion emphasized how incidence of fire outbreaks have been a serious problem since ancient times and was co-sponsored by Hons. B.O. Adeola (Iseyin/Itesiwaju), B.G. Adebayo (Ibadan North), and A.O. Omikunle (Ibadan South East I).

According to Onaolapo, fire incidents is steadily on the rise in Oyo State because many places do not have proper fire safety measures.

He asserted that businesses and public spaces lack basic fire equipment like extinguishers, and smoke detectors, making them vulnerable to fires.

The lawmaker recalled an incident which occured recently in Ora Garder in Ogbomoso, in which firefighters tried to help but arrived late in a rickety truck and could not stop the fire.

This, according to him, is not because they were unskilled, but because they did not hive modern and adequate equipment.

He said the problem is not only in Ogbomoso but in many parts of Oyo State where fire stations lack functional firefighter trucks, modern equipment and enough trained staff to handle emergencies effectively.

The majority leader said: “The Oyo State Fire Services Agency face many challenges that make it difficult for them to respond quickly to fire emergencies. These include lack of funding, old and rickety fire trucks, shortage of water supply and obselete firefighting equipment, traffic congestion also delay response times while many areas lack fire hydrants, making it hard to getwater to fight fires. In addition, many buildings do not follow safety rules, increasing the risk of major fire disasters.

“Observes that fire out breaks have led to significant economic losses for individuals, businesses and the State as a whole. Many victims of fire disasters struggle to recover due to the destruction of property, loss of livelihoods and the financial burden of rebuilding public institutions.

“Markets and residential areas are frequently affected disrupting daily activities and putting enormous pressure on emergency response services.

Additionally, fire disasters contribute to environmental pollution due to emission of toxic fumes from burning materials, thereby affecting public health.

“If proactive measures are not taken to strengthen fire safety in Oyo State, the frequency and severity of fire indents may continue to increase, leading to avoidable loss of lives, destruction of property, displacement of residents and ecomomic setback.

The continued neglect of fire service may also discourage investment in key sectors such as trade and real estate, as investors may fear potential losses due to inadequate emergency response systems.”

However, following deliberations, the House of Assembly urged the State Emergency Management Agency (OYSEMA), to assess the extent of damage and provide immediate relief materials and assistance to affect traders.

The House equally urged Oyo State Fire Service Agency to establish more fire stations across Oyo State and recruit skilled personnel to work in the additional fire stations when established.

It directed the Ministry of Finance to ensure availability of fund to procure modern fire fighting trucks and other logistics to enhance efficient service deliver.