Rivers State governor, Nyesom Ezenwo Wike says the allocation of basic and social amenities by the Federal Government in States should be devoid of politics.
He stated this on the occasion of the official inauguration of one fighting truck, one water tanker and basic life support ambulance of the Federal Fire Service at the Government House, Port Harcourt on Thursday.
Governor Wike said that the deployment of the firefighting trucks and ambulance by the Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola will further help in protection of lives and property in the State.
The Rivers State governor, who lauded the Minister of Interior for rising above petty politics to identify with the State, maintained that States and Federal government ought to compliment each other for the growth and development of the country.
He observed that the distribution of basic infrastructural projects and social amenities to States by the Federal Government on the basis of political affiliation has become the bane of the country’s underdevelopment.
According to him, denying States that are not politically aligned to Federal government basic and social amenities will only retard the progress of the country.
Governor Wike remarked that most of the recent incidents of fire outbreaks in the State and elsewhere in the country are mainly due to negligence. He lamented that Nigerians are increasingly becoming nonchalant about the safety and called for attitudinal change.
The governor announced the donation of two utility vehicles and Five Million Naira (N5M) monthly subvention to the Federal Fire Service in the State in order to enhance their operational capability.
He however, warned that the Rivers State government will stop giving subvention to the Federal Fire Service if they fail to deploy their personnel to assist in putting out fire outbreak in the State.
Governor Wike urged personnel of the Federal Fire Service to utilize the firefighting truck and ambulance for the benefit of the residents of Rivers State.
“If I find out any day there is fire outbreak and I hear you say there are no consumables, we will stop giving you stipends to take care of these vehicles.”
