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The Federal Government has announced plans to enact the Federal Fire and Rescue Service Act to overhaul the Nigeria’s emergency architecture and transition the Federal Fire Service (FFS), from a fire fighting unit into a comprehensive rescue service.
Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this in during the 2026 National Fire Safety Week themed ‘Building a Fire-Resilient Nigeria: One Community at a Time’, yesterday in Abuja.
The minister noted that this legislative reform marks the first major overhaul of the Nigeria’s fire legislation in 63 years.
Tunji-Ojo lamented that the extant 1963 Federal Fire Service Act is obsolete and incapable of meeting modern emergency demands, explaining that the new legislation will legally empower the service to handle diverse crises beyond fire suppression.
He pointed that “The number one issue we had was the law. Because there is no right way of doing what is legally wrong. If the law does not give you the power to do something, no matter how good that action is, once you do it, it becomes illegal.” Tunji-Ojo
Detailing the scope of the incoming agency, the minister stated that the renewed service will mirror international standards by embedding emergency medical services (EMS), hazardous material (hazmat) response, urban search and rescue for natural disasters like floods, and rigorous building code enforcement through trained fire marshals.
He further stressed the need to integrate basic rescue training and safety education into school curricula nationwide, transforming public preparedness into a civic culture.
“I want to see a federal fire service that specialises in rescue operations. I want to see a federal service that deals with hazardous materials, what we call hazmat response, when there is a ceiling, when there is a helicopter, toxic gas, etc. It is the fire service that is responsible,” the minister added.
To reinforce operational readiness, Tunji-Ojo set a December deadline for the completion of the national fire academy, maintaining that robust infrastructure and private-sector collaboration are vital to safeguarding lives and property across Nigeria.
Earlier, Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Adeyemi, stressed that building a fire resilient nation requires a shared, community driven approach and that the week long celebration will feature intensive public enlightened campaigns on fire safety .
Adeyemi lauded the Minister of Interior for his visionary leadership, noting that strategic partnerships with TETFund and ALGON are expanding emergency infrastructure across local governments.
He also highlighted the reconstruction of the National Fire Academy to train volunteer firefighters and marshals, urging Nigerians to prioritize safety awareness.
He insisted that “Simple measures such as the safe handling of electrical appliances, proper use of cooking equipment, responsible storage of flammable materials and prompt reporting of fire hazards can prevent avoidable incidents.
“This year’s theme, Building a Fire-Resilient Nigeria: One Community at a Time, underscores the fact 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.
The event also s featured the official unveiling of the 2026 National Fire Safety Week Logo and fire safety booklets translated into Nigerian indigenous languages to make essential fire safety information more accessible to Nigerians.
