The General Officer Commanding (GOC) 3 Division and Commander Operation SAFE HAVEN (OPSH), Major General Ibrahim Ali has said, understanding the causes, management and prevention of Fire outbreak are necessary to avert fire disaster in Nigerian Army Barracks. He made this known while declaring open a seminar organized to sensitize troops and families on fire prevention and management at Headquarters 3 Division Jos.
The GOC/Commander OPSH who was represented at the occasion by the Chief of Staff 3 Division, Brigadier General Davis Kurmi, said fire disaster can occur in any phase of human life. He revealed that, the harmattan season is prone to fire outbreak at the slightest negligence, nevertheless, knowledge of the causes and preventive measures before it occurs are essential to mitigate the effect, he said.
General Ali said, fire disaster is capable of destroying lives and property within the shortest possible time. He noted that fire disaster respects no rank, status or gender. He charged participants to ensure maximum application of the knowledge gained. He thanked the Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant General Faruk Yahaya for his efforts towards ensuring improved welfare of troops and their dependents.
Also Speaking, the representative of the Chief of Logistics Army, the Director Supply and Transport, Department of Army Logistics, Brigadier General BO Ogunbumi said the lecture was organized under the directive of the COAS, to equip troops with the required knowledge to stand and fight fire before it gets to a devastating stage. He noted that the COAS is always saddened by incidence where lives and property are lost to fire disaster for lack of knowledge on how to fight it.
Delivering his lectures at the seminar, the guest speaker, Brigadier General Moses Ikobah said, knowledge of efficient fire prevention skills are necessary to safety of Nigerian Army assets and personnel. He noted, having modern knowledge of fire and safety management are stimulus to optimal response in an event of fire disaster in Army facilities. He further revealed, proper storage of items, regular check on sockets, correct usage and proper reporting of equipment are some preventive measures to avert fire disasters at home and offices.
In his vote of thanks, the Commander 73 Supply and Transport Brigade, Brigadier General Solomon Er noted, the lectures have widened the horizon of troops’ knowledge on causes of fire disaster and response mechanisms required to mitigate its effect.
Participants for the seminar were drawn from Officers, soldiers and their families from headquarters 3 Division, 6 Brigade Jalingo, 23 Brigade Yola, 33 Brigade Bauchi as well as officers of the Nigerian Federal Fire Service and the Nigeria Immigration Service Plateau state.
