NOA sensitises Oyo residents on fire disaster, Lassa fever prevention

The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has advised residents of Oyo state to do away with attitude, behaviours and practices that could ignite fire outbreak.

The state Director of NOA, Mrs Dolapo Dosunmu, gave the advice on Thursday in Ibadan during a sensitisation programme, organised for members of the public by the agency.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the programme was also aimed at sensitising the people of the state on security, prevention of Lassa fever, coronavirus, drug abuse and vandalism of public property.

The NOA boss noted that the onset of dry season since late 2019 had brought about the unpleasant incidents of fire disasters in some communities in the state.

She called on the residents of the state to be conscious and mindful of how they handled naked fire and all acts that could result in fire outbreak.

Dosunmu also urged them not to see the issue of security of lives and property as solely the responsibility of security agencies and government, but as a collective responsibility.

She stressed the need for people to play complementary roles in order to further sustain and promote the effectiveness of government’s security initiative.

According to her, the complementary efforts will also enhance government’s determination to eradicate armed banditry, robbery, kidnapping, terrorism, ritual killings and other related crimes in the state.

She advised the people of the state to provide timely, credible and accurate information and tips-off to security operatives on any suspicious movement and activities of strangers or suspected criminals.

On Lassa fever and coronavirus, Dosunmu implored Nigerians to take their personal hygiene with all the seriousness it deserved.

“We are advised by medical experts to clear the surroundings of our houses, exterminate rodents from our homes, cover our foodstuffs properly and stay off the eating of rats, bats and snakes,” she stated.

The NOA director further alerted the general public on the activities of some unpatriotic individuals vandalising the dual railway recently constructed by the Federal Government.

“It was reported that hoodlums and thieves have started unscrewing and stealing the bolts and nuts holding the rail lines, thereby endangering the lives of train passengers,” she said.

Dosunmu urged patriotic Nigerians not to hesitate to report such vandals and criminals whenever they were seen, saying “it is our duty as citizens to protect public infrastructure from being vandalised.”

NAN reports that representatives of the State Fire Service, Department of State Security, Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency sensitised the participants.

NAN also reports that the participants included community leaders, traders, artisans and students.