By Anan Geolengs
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, said the Federal Government is repositioning the Federal Fire Service (FFS) from fire fighting to comprehensive rescue service.
Tunji-Ojo said this on Monday in Abuja at the 2026 National Fire Safety Week opening ceremony and stakeholders’ conference, themed: “Building a Fire-Resilient Nigeria: One Community at a Time.”
He said the FFS should go beyond fire safety to include emergency rescue, medical rescue and disaster response.
The minister said in other parts of world, fire service responsibilities go beyond fire suppression and control to include emergency medical services, rescue operations, hazardous materials response and disaster management.
“When you go to U.S. and you call your ambulance, the Emergency Medical Service, it is fire service that rescues.
“I want to have my dream of fire service in Nigeria that will be able to provide first aid, rescue service, even medical rescue services.
“Whenever there is accident, when it comes to rescuing people, it is fire service that is first responder in any emergency anywhere else in world,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo said he wants to see federal fire service that specialises in rescue operations, hazardous materials response, disaster, search and rescue during earthquakes, floods and other emergencies.
According to him, prevention and community risk mitigation, including fire inspection and code enforcement, is core responsibility of FFS.
He said government must devote energy to fire inspection and code implementation, adding that fire marshals must be deployed in every district, ward, town and village.
“Core responsibility of government is to protect lives and property. It means that fire service is core responsibility of government,” he said.
The minister said rescue service and techniques should be included in curriculum at all levels, in collaboration with educational institutions and ministries of education.
He said new Federal Fire and Rescue Service Bill will replace Fire Service Act of 1963 which he described as outdated and restrictive.
He said Act does not give service power to perform modern rescue functions, noting that new law will make job easier and encourage innovation.
“For first time in 63 years, this President took bull by horn. As I speak to you, we have finished defending it. It should be laid this week at National Assembly.
“What government of President Bola Tinubu is bringing on board is Federal Fire and Rescue Service,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo said Tinubu’s administration understands fire as major source of employment and is opening industry for private sector intervention.
He said administration has cleared backlog of over 57,000 promotions in paramilitary agencies under ministry and has promoted close to 100,000 officers since 2023.
He said 2026 promotion exercise has been completed and process for 2027 has started, adding that era of lobbying for promotion is over.
He said administration has approved recruitment of about 5,000 personnel into FFS, increased number of Deputy Controllers-General from one to three and expanded Assistant Controllers-General commands from six to 18.
He said government has also approved hazard and other allowances and pension for life for retired controllers and deputy controllers-general.
He said government has procured over 10 new fire trucks, over 450 drums of foam chemicals, over 2,000 fire tunics and 300 breathing apparatuses for officers.
The minister said construction of Fire Academy on 23 hectares of land is ongoing and will be completed by December.
He said academy will have advanced facilities, including classrooms, library, training centre, health centre, hostel to take over 3,000 people, solar power and lecture theatres.
He said academy will help retain millions of dollars spent abroad on fire and safety training by oil and gas companies and multinationals.
Also speaking, the Controller-General of the
Federal Fire Service (FFS), Olumode Adeyemi, said the National Fire Safety Week remains one of the service’s flagship public awareness initiatives to educate Nigerians on fire prevention, promote safe practices and strengthen public participation in reducing fire incidents.
He said this year’s theme underscores that fire safety is a shared responsibility.
“A fire-resilient nation begins with informed individuals, supported by prepared communities, responsible institutions and effective emergency response services,” he said.
He said as part of activities, fire safety awareness campaigns would be conducted simultaneously across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including sensitisation at motor parks, schools and markets, roadshows and distribution of fliers.
According to him, one of the major highlights of the event is the official unveiling of the 2026 National Fire Safety Week logo and fire safety booklets in indigenous languages to make essential information more accessible.
“We believe that effective public education must reach people in languages they understand and through channels that reflect their everyday experiences,” he said.
Adeyemi said the service would also recognise organisations and individuals for their commitment to fire safety, while the draws for the second edition of the Controller-General of Fire Cup would be held to deepen camaraderie among participating services.
He said the FFS continues to strengthen operational capacity through personnel development, improved emergency response and strategic partnerships.
He listed partnerships with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to strengthen fire safety infrastructure in public tertiary institutions, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to expand fire service presence in all local governments, and the Tony Elumelu Foundation to improve firefighting preparedness among Nigerians.
“We are also pursuing the development of mini fire outposts to bring emergency response services closer to communities.
“When all of this is achieved, we would have fulfilled our dream of democratising the Federal Fire Service in Nigeria,” he said.
Adeyemi commended individuals and groups who facilitated establishment of fire stations in their communities, including the Offa Descendant Union, the Chairman of Bonny Local Government, Alhaji Daud Tijani Igi-Ogun in Oyo town, and Hon. Festus Akingbaso in Idanre, Ondo State.
He said they procured land, designed and built fire stations under supervision of FFS and donated them to the service, and called on philanthropists, corporate organisations, community associations and developers to emulate them.
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