Fire Service CG Calls for National Action to Build Safer Nigeria

ABUJA — The Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, has called for stronger national collaboration and increased investment in fire safety infrastructure to protect lives and property across Nigeria.

Adeyemi made the call on Friday at the One-Day National Stakeholders’ Summit on Fire Safety and the induction of Federal Fire Service Public Relations Officers from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

The summit, held at the Exhibition Pavilion, Area 11, Abuja, was organised under the theme, “Building a Resilient Fire Service for the 21st Century.”

The FFS boss said Nigeria’s expanding cities, growing industries, complex infrastructure and emerging fire risks required a modern approach to fire safety that prioritises prevention, early detection, professional response, recovery and learning from previous incidents.

He said building a resilient Fire Service also required restoring and sustaining public trust through professionalism, transparency and effective communication.

According to Adeyemi, the ability of the Fire Service to protect lives and property could be weakened when citizens do not trust official information, understand safety warnings or know how to respond appropriately during emergencies.

Fire Safety Is a Shared Responsibility

Adeyemi stressed that the Federal Fire Service could not achieve national fire resilience alone, noting that fire safety involved several sectors, including education, housing, industry, transportation, construction, energy, health, commerce and the environment.

He highlighted the Service’s partnership with the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) to strengthen fire safety preparedness and compliance in tertiary institutions.

The Controller-General also praised community and private-sector initiatives supporting the establishment of fire stations, citing projects in Offa, Oyo Town, Idanre, Bonny Island and Kugbo.

He called on philanthropists, corporate organisations, business leaders and other Nigerians with the capacity to support the establishment of additional fire stations across the country.

Adeyemi said such investments should be viewed beyond philanthropy, describing them as direct investments in the protection of communities, lives and property.

He also disclosed that the FFS was collaborating with the Tony Elumelu Foundation on fire safety preparedness training for 7,740 Nigerians, targeting 10 people in each local government area.

CG Highlights One-Year Achievements

The summit coincided with Adeyemi’s first anniversary in office as Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service.

Reflecting on his first year, he said the Service had recorded progress in operational readiness, staff welfare, training and institutional development.

According to him, 40 firefighting appliances have been rehabilitated and revamped, while two modern firefighting appliances and more than 2,000 personal protective gears have been supplied.

He further disclosed that the National Fire Academy was being upgraded in line with international best practices, expressing confidence that the facility would emerge as one of Africa’s leading centres for firefighter and emergency-response training.

Adeyemi added that more than 700 cadet officers had been trained in basic firefighting and deployed across various commands.

He said specialised capacity development had also been enhanced through collaborations with the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces and other stakeholders.

On personnel welfare, he highlighted improved access to medical interventions, interest-free loan opportunities, support for families of deceased personnel and continued attention to promotions and other entitlements.

FFS Strengthens Public Relations Structure

Adeyemi described the induction of Public Relations Officers from across the country into the NIPR as a major milestone for the Federal Fire Service.

He said the initiative was designed to professionalise the way the Service communicates with Nigerians, particularly during emergencies.

He noted that the officers would be strengthened in strategic communication, crisis communication, media relations, stakeholder engagement, public education, reputation management and combating misinformation.

“A fire incident is not only an operational incident; it is also a communication incident,” the Controller-General said.

He also unveiled the Federal Fire Service Public Relations Officers Badge, describing it as a symbol of responsibility, professionalism, accountability and the authority to communicate on behalf of the Service.

Call for More Fire Stations

Adeyemi reiterated his call for a greater number of strategically located fire stations across Nigeria to bring emergency response closer to communities and reduce response time.

He appealed to philanthropists, corporate bodies, business leaders and other well-meaning Nigerians to support the initiative.

The Controller-General also urged Nigerians to assist firefighters during emergencies by keeping access routes clear, avoiding unnecessary crowds at fire scenes, providing accurate information to responders and sharing only verified information.

He said every fire prevented represented a potential life saved, while every community educated and every professional trained contributed to a safer Nigeria.

Adeyemi expressed appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for their support and confidence in his leadership.

He also commended the NIPR, Rightangle PR, media organisations, government and private-sector partners, and officers and men of the Federal Fire Service for their contributions to strengthening the Service.

He subsequently declared the summit open, urging stakeholders to deepen collaboration towards building a safer, more resilient and prosperous Nigeria.