Safety: Obiano sacks fire service chief, Agbili

The Anambra state government may have sacked the state fire officer, Mr Martin Agbili.
Announcing his removal and other sweeping changes and restructuring within the Fire department, the state Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Chief C-Don Adinuba said that Air Vice Marshal Ben Chiobi has been appointed as the new boss of the agency.

The announcement designated the new fire chief as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the new autonomous Fire department.
Chiobi, according to Adinuba is currently the Special Adviser to the Governor on Creative Security as well as Coordinator of the Anambra State Integrated Security System.
Adinuba disclosed that the new structures were consequent upon moves already initiated by Gov Willie Obiano to grant the State Fire Service greater autonomy in its operations and management, subject to approval by the Anambra State House of Assembly.

He pointed out that the law setting up the state Fire Service would be amended in order to make it independent of the state Ministry of Public Utilities or any other ministry.
The autonomy, he added would free it from present unnecessary bureaucratic encumbrances and enable it respond more effectively and efficiently to the challenges of its mandate.

The Information and Public Enlightenment also announced the willingness of the State government to receive donations and assistance from the public in aid of the various fire victims.
He declared, “Gov Willie Obiano has, therefore, opened a bank account to assist the fire victims. It is known as the Anambra State Victims Support Account. The account number is 5030105029, Fidelity Bank PLC.
“It is to be administered by the distinguished sons and daughters of our state who serve as trustees of the Anambra State Security Trust Fund led by Chief Chidi Anyaegbu, MFR, Chairman of Chisco Group.
“All Anambra indigenes, friends, in laws and well wishers are encouraged to give generously to our brothers and sisters who are now all of a sudden in dire need of assistance. Let us demonstrate, once more, our famed abundance of humanism.”
Earlier, following the open lapses on the part of the Anambra State Fire Department Headquarters that was for the upteenth time caught flat footed when a petrol tanker exploded at the Upper Iweka area of Onitsha, the South Eastern commercial hub, the state governor Willie Obiano has paid a surprise visit to the Chief Fire Officer, Mr Martin Agbili.
According to report from the Government House, the visit was part of the governor’s efforts to ascertain why the Onitsha fire as was the case in some recent incidences couldn’t be quelled.

…By Child Collins (Elombah.com) Cresta Valtrion