BENIN CITY: The Edo State Ministry of Public Safety and Security (MPSS), in collaboration with the Edo State Fire Service and the Nigerian Red Cross, has conducted comprehensive safety drills for staff of Bendel Newspapers Company Limited (BNCL), publishers of The Observer titles.
The exercise was aimed at strengthening emergency preparedness among civil and public servants and promoting a safety-conscious culture in workplaces across the state.
The MPSS team, led by the Permanent Secretary and represented by the Director of Inter-Agency and Operations, Mr Thompson Erhomonsele, included key directors of the ministry.
Officials of the Edo State Fire Service, led by Mr Godfrey Akuli, and the Red Cross, led by Mr Christian Ndukwu, also participated.
Speaking during the session, Director of Safety, Engr Ighodalo Uzama, said the administration of Governor Monday Okpebholo considered it necessary to institutionalize regular fire drills across public service institutions.
He noted that emergencies could occur despite preventive measures and stressed the need for workers to understand evacuation procedures, identify exit routes and assemble at designated muster points during emergencies.
“The essence of safety drills is to test preparedness and improve response time. We must build a strong safety culture in our workplaces,” he said.
Erhomonsele, in his presentation, sensitised participants on modern tactics used by fraudsters and kidnappers, urging residents to remain vigilant and report suspicious movements in their neighbourhoods.
He emphasised that security was a collective responsibility and not limited to uniformed personnel.
The Fire Service team warned against unsafe practices such as keeping gas cylinders indoors, using camping gas inside homes and handling electrical gadgets in kitchens during cooking.
Participants were also taken through practical demonstrations on how to extinguish fires safely and prevent electrocution during fire outbreaks.
The Red Cross team provided hands-on training in first aid, demonstrating how to assist and evacuate victims during emergencies, including fire incidents and road accidents.
Mr Ndukwu explained that first aid involves the immediate assistance given to a casualty before professional medical help arrives, urging participants to always act responsibly and support one another in times of emergency.
