The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has unveiled plans to transform the Federal Fire Service into a comprehensive emergency response and rescue agency capable of handling disasters, medical emergencies, hazardous materials and search-and-rescue operations.
Tunji-Ojo disclosed this at the 2026 National Fire Safety Week, where he said the Federal Government was working towards repositioning the service beyond its traditional responsibility of fire prevention and suppression.
According to the minister, firefighting represents only one aspect of the responsibilities of modern fire services across the world, noting that Nigeria must adopt a broader approach that prioritises the protection of lives and property.
He explained that the proposed Federal Fire and Rescue Service would provide emergency medical assistance, first aid, accident response, hazardous materials management, disaster rescue and other critical emergency services.
“My dream of the Federal Fire Service is not a service that is just about fire safety, but a service that is more of a rescue service,” he said.
The minister noted that in several developed countries, fire services serve as first responders during medical emergencies, road accidents, earthquakes, floods and other disasters.
He said Nigeria needed a similar system where firefighters would be adequately trained and equipped to rescue people during emergencies, including floods and other natural disasters.
Tunji-Ojo also emphasised the importance of preventive measures, particularly regular fire inspections, enforcement of safety regulations and community-based fire safety initiatives.
He proposed the establishment of fire marshals across districts, wards, towns and villages, stressing that community participation was essential to preventing fire outbreaks and reducing casualties.
The minister further called for the integration of fire safety awareness, first aid and rescue techniques into the country’s educational curriculum.
He said the Federal Fire Service should collaborate with ministries of education, secondary school authorities and universities to make basic emergency response skills an essential part of learning at all levels.
“Rescue must become our way of life, a part of our existence as a people. You never can tell who the next person you will be in a position to help might be. It could be your mother, son, daughter or somebody very important to you,” he stated.
On the legal framework guiding the service, Tunji-Ojo disclosed that the Federal Government was working to replace the existing Federal Fire Service Act of 1963 with a new legal framework to establish the Federal Fire and Rescue Service.
He described the 63-year-old legislation as outdated and inadequate to address contemporary emergency response demands, adding that the proposed law would provide the necessary legal backing for innovation,
expansion and improved service delivery.
According to him, the new legislation will also strengthen the Federal Fire Service’s coordination role in promoting uniform policies and standards across the country.
He explained that although state governments have responsibilities for fire services, the Federal Fire Service must coordinate national policies and provide protection for federal institutions and infrastructure.
The minister said the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was committed to addressing longstanding challenges in the service while preparing it for emerging emergencies and future disasters.
Highlighting the service’s operational performance, Tunji-Ojo disclosed that the average response time to fire incidents, which stood between 32 and 35 minutes when the administration assumed office in 2023, had improved significantly.
He said that as of August 2026, the service had recorded 136 fire incidents across the country, rescued 119 lives and recorded no fatalities.
He added that in August alone, property losses were estimated at N6.4 billion, while property valued at approximately N23 billion was saved, with the average emergency response time reduced to 15 minutes and 22 seconds.
The minister commended the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service for the improvements, expressing confidence that the service would achieve greater results when the proposed legislation becomes operational.
On infrastructure development, Tunji-Ojo announced that a modern fire service academy being constructed on approximately 23 hectares of land had reached an advanced stage of completion.
He said the facility, which is expected to become operational before the end of 2026, would provide world-class training opportunities for firefighters and other emergency response personnel.
According to him, the academy would feature advanced firefighting equipment, specialised training facilities, automated classrooms, a library, a health centre, a lecture theatre and hostel accommodation for more than 3,000 trainees.
He added that the investment would also help retain in Nigeria funds currently spent by oil and gas companies, multinational corporations and other industries on specialised fire safety training abroad.
The minister also highlighted improvements in personnel welfare, disclosing that the government had cleared outstanding promotion backlogs affecting more than 57,000 personnel across the paramilitary agencies under the Ministry of Interior.
He said the 2026 promotion exercise had been completed, while preparations for the 2027 exercise had commenced.
Tunji-Ojo further disclosed that the Federal Government was concluding a recruitment exercise involving approximately 5,000 additional personnel for the Federal Fire Service, with successful candidates undergoing the final stages of the process.
He said the Tinubu administration had also expanded the service’s leadership structure by increasing the number of Deputy Controllers-General from one to three and expanding Assistant Controllers-General and operational commands from six to 18.
The minister noted that improved allowances, including hazard allowances, had also been approved in recognition of the risks firefighters face while carrying out their duties.
He disclosed that retired Controllers-General and Deputy Controllers-General of the Federal Fire Service and other sister agencies were also benefiting from a pension arrangement approved by the government.
On operational equipment, Tunji-Ojo listed the procurement of more than 10 new fire trucks, over 450 drums of firefighting foam chemicals, more than 2,000 fire tunics and 300 breathing apparatuses.
He said the equipment was necessary to protect firefighters and improve their effectiveness during emergency operations.
The minister recalled that before the current administration, some firefighters were deployed to tackle fire outbreaks without adequate protective equipment, describing the situation as exposing personnel to unnecessary danger.
He assured officers that the government would continue investing in their welfare, training, equipment and career development.
Tunji-Ojo urged firefighters to remain committed to their responsibilities, saying the government’s ultimate objective was to restore public confidence in the profession and make firefighting and rescue services attractive to younger Nigerians.
“We must bring this career back to where it belongs. There is no greater dignity than saving lives and living for humanity. That is what the Federal Fire and Rescue Service is about,” he said.
He expressed appreciation to firefighters for their sacrifices, sleepless nights and commitment to protecting lives and property, assuring them that the government recognised their contributions to national safety.
