FG Urges Wealthy Nigerians to Build More Fire Stations

The Federal Government has called on wealthy Nigerians, philanthropists, business leaders and corporate organisations to support the establishment of more fire stations across the country to improve emergency response and protect lives and property.

The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Adeyemi Samuel Olumode, made the appeal on Thursday in Abuja at a one-day National Stakeholders’ Summit on Fire Safety.

Speaking on the theme, “Building a Resilient Fire Service for the 21st Century,” Adeyemi said firefighting should not be seen as the sole responsibility of government. He said communities, individuals and private organisations also had important roles to play in strengthening fire safety across the country.

He said Nigeria needed more strategically located fire stations so that emergency services could reach affected communities faster and reduce the time taken to respond to fire incidents.

Adeyemi cited fire stations established through the support of the Offa Descendant Association, as well as facilities in Oyo Town, Idanre, Bonny Island and Kugbo, as examples of how private and community investment could improve emergency response.

He said such investments should be viewed as contributions to the protection of lives and property rather than ordinary charitable activities.

The summit also marked one year since Adeyemi assumed office as Controller General of the Federal Fire Service on August 14, 2025. He used the occasion to review some of the progress recorded by the Service during his first year in office.

Among the achievements listed were the rehabilitation of 40 firefighting vehicles and the provision of two modern firefighting appliances. The Service also received more than 2,000 pieces of personal protective equipment for its personnel.

Adeyemi disclosed that more than 700 cadet officers had received basic firefighting training and had subsequently been deployed to different commands across the country.

He added that the Federal Fire Service had expanded its specialised training capacity through counter-terrorism exercises conducted in partnership with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the armed forces.

The Controller General also spoke about the ongoing improvement of the National Fire Academy. He said the facility was being upgraded with the aim of making it a leading centre for firefighter training in Africa when it reopens.

During the event, 37 Public Relations Officers drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory were inducted into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.

Adeyemi described the induction as an important step towards improving communication within the Federal Fire Service. He said it was the first time officers from all states and the FCT had been brought together for a coordinated training programme aimed at professional recognition and certification.

He said the role of the officers went beyond issuing information during emergencies. They were expected to develop skills in strategic communication, crisis communication, media relations, public education, stakeholder engagement and reputation management.

The Controller General said fire incidents also created communication challenges, making public trust and the quick release of accurate information important parts of emergency management.

He acknowledged the support of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund in promoting fire safety in tertiary institutions and the Tony Elumelu Foundation for its partnership with the Federal Fire Service on fire preparedness training.

According to him, the training programme with the foundation has so far reached 7,740 Nigerians, with plans to expand the programme to 10 people in every local government area across the country.

Adeyemi also appreciated the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Rightangle PR, government agencies, private-sector organisations and the media for their contributions to improving fire safety and communication.

He urged Nigerians to also take responsibility during emergencies by creating clear access routes for fire trucks, avoiding unnecessary crowds around incident scenes and providing responders with accurate and verified information.