From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
As December 12 council polls in Kogi the state is around the corner, a joint team of the Federal and Kogi State Fire Agencies have pledged to collaborate with the Kogi State Independent Electoral Commission (KOSIEC) to forestall unexpected fire outbreak at the collation centres.
The State Director of Kogi State Fire Agency and leader of the team, Mr. Salawu Ozigi Umar disclosed this when officers and men of the fire service paid an advocacy visit to the Commission at the weekend.
Umar said the purpose of the visit was to collaborate with KOSIEC to prevent loss of lives, properties and electoral materials to fire during the period.
He said there was the need to map out strategies to forestall fire outbreak at the collation centres to safeguard election materials to as the election falls within the harmattan period.
He explained that fire outbreak could be prevented if precautionary measures were put in place, saying the right things needed to be done to avert any eventuality.
Responding, the Chairman of KOSIEC, Mamman Nda Eri commended the initiative of the Firemen and their proactive steps, saying that the Commission would give security of lives and property its topmost priority at the time of the election.
He noted that the collaboration was essential and could go a long way at safeguarding human lives and properties from fire destruction.
While revealing that the budget for the election was meagre, the chairman promised that KOSIEC would do its best to accommodate the security initiatives, assuring the people of the state that the election environment would be made safe for them.
Eri thanked the men for the visit, adding that the Commission looked forward to a safe and successful outing with them and other security agencies in the state on the day of the election.
