The Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) has taken a significant step to strengthen workplace safety and emergency response capacity with the deployment of a fire truck to its Department of Health, Safety and Environment (HSE).
At a brief handover ceremony held at the Commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, the Managing Director, Dr Samuel Ogbuku—represented by the Director of Administration and Human Resources, Sir Kelechi Nwelue—said the initiative underscores the Commission’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property within its facilities and host communities.
and emergency response initiatives.
“This fire truck was bought to ensure the safety of the Commission and its environs, to help to fight fire in the case of any outbreak in and within the neighbourhood. We will assist in fighting fire as much as possible, just like Shell and Julius Berger,” he said.
Ogbuku described safety as a collective responsibility, stressing that the provision of modern firefighting equipment is critical to accident prevention and effective emergency response. He noted that the fire truck would not only serve the Commission but also support neighbouring communities in the event of fire outbreaks, aligning with the intervention roles often played by corporate organisations.
He further disclosed plans to extend similar support to NDDC state offices across the Niger Delta to bolster hazard mitigation and improve response capacity throughout the region.
In her remarks, the Director of Health, Safety and Environment, Mrs Chinyere Umeh, commended the Commission’s leadership for prioritising staff welfare and operational safety. She said the addition of the fire truck would significantly enhance the department’s readiness to respond to emergencies and strengthen adherence to safety standards.
Umeh reaffirmed the department’s commitment to promoting a culture of safety and environmental responsibility across the Commission, noting that the intervention was both timely and impactful.