The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Olumode Adeyemi Samuel, has inaugurated a Special Task Force on Public and Private Building Audit at the Service Headquarters in Abuja.

Themed “Strengthening Fire Safety Compliance in Public Buildings: A Call to Action for National Resilience,” the event underscored the FFS’s commitment to proactive fire risk management and stricter enforcement of safety standards.

In his address, Adeyemi expressed concern over the alarming rise in fire incidents across the country, citing recent outbreaks in Lagos and Abuja as evidence of the urgent need for compliance with fire regulations.

“The increasing frequency of fire incidents underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of fire safety standards in public and commercial buildings,” he said.

The newly inaugurated Task Force has been mandated to conduct comprehensive audits of public buildings nationwide, map out their fire risk classifications, inspect facilities to assess adherence to safety regulations, and provide recommendations to guide enforcement and policy actions.

Adeyemi reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, stressing that “fire safety is not a choice but a shared responsibility.”

The Task Force, chaired by Assistant Controller General Bolarinde Tajudeen Muhammed, comprises senior officers drawn from various departments within the FFS.

While charging members to carry out their duties with professionalism and integrity, Adeyemi said, “Execute your assignment with full dedication to the Service’s mandate of safeguarding public and private spaces.”

He also called on owners and managers of public and high-rise buildings to cooperate fully with the Task Force during the audit exercise.