Mr Ismail Adeleke, Director of Operations, Oyo State Fire Service Agency, says the agency lacks adequate facilities to function efficiently and effectively.

Adeleke stated this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.

He said that the challenges of inadequate facilities, equipment and personnel were major factors affecting the agency  from  effectively performing its duties.

Adeleke commended Gov. Seyi Makinde of the state for trying his best for the agency, adding that government alone could not provide the needs of the agency and requested for the support of well-meaning individuals in the state.

“We have challenges of facility, we don’t have enough facilities.

“The Oyo State Government is trying because the governor bought six fire fighter vehicles for us during his first term and four utility vehicles; we have to give kudos to him.

” But everyday the population of the state is increasing and towns expanding, so far the population is increasing, our demand also must be increasing.

“Our demand for fire stations, demand for fire facilities and equipment is increasing everyday,” he said.

Adeleke said that the agency needed at least one fire station in each of the local government areas of the state to perform efficiently and effectively well.

He said that efficiency of the agency was very important to urgently curtail fire disaster whenever it happened.

“We need fire fighting equipment, fire rescue equipment and personnel.

“There are some organisations that used to assist paramilitary agencies, security agencies in building stations and provide other equipment.

“Since my past 17 years in service, I have never seen any one build fire station or buy fire fighter for fire service in the state.

“Our people value security than safety, the community needs to rise up and help us,” he said.

He appealed to the people of the state to stop attacking the personnel of the service whenever they were on fire fighting operation.

“At times, when we go for an operation, some people will start blaming us that we came late and start attacking our personnel.

“They should please  desist from that; we are not the one that set the place on fire, we are there to perform our duty and allow us do it without any disturbance,” Adeleke appealed.

He pledged the agency’s commitment to continue to perform its  best in discharging its responsibilities to the public and pleaded for public support.  (NAN)