File: Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo
… agency’s responsibilities will now include emergency medical services, search and rescue operations.
The Federal Government is set to repeal the 1963 Fire Service Act and replace it with new legislation that will transform the Federal Fire Service into the Federal Fire and Rescue Service.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Monday at the 2026 National Fire Safety Week in Abuja.
He said the proposed legislation, which had completed its defence at the Federal Executive Council level, would be presented for consideration this week.
Tunji-Ojo said the new law would expand the agency’s responsibilities beyond firefighting to include emergency medical services, search and rescue operations, hazardous materials response, disaster management and accident investigation.
He said, “For the first time in 63 years, this President has taken the bull by the horns. As I speak to you, I think we have finished defending it. It should be laid this week, Thursday, at the level of the Federal Executive Council.
“So with this new law, we are repealing what used to be the Federal Fire Service Act. What the government of President Bola Tinubu is bringing on board is the Federal Fire and Rescue Service.”
The minister explained that the existing law had restricted the agency’s ability to innovate and respond effectively to emerging emergencies, noting that the legislation was no longer suitable for the country’s present realities.
He said, “You cannot have a Fire Service Act of 1963 and think it will be near 2026 compliant. It doesn’t make sense. And if the law does not give you the power to do certain things, it makes the job of this man in uniform impossible to do.
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“The number one issue we had was the law. 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 said the government wanted a fire service that would serve as a first responder during emergencies, including road accidents, floods, earthquakes and incidents involving toxic substances.
He added that the proposed agency would also provide first aid and emergency medical services, while strengthening fire prevention through inspections, enforcement of safety regulations and public education.
“I want to have my dream of a fire service in Nigeria that will be able to provide that first aid, that will be able to provide that rescue service, even medical rescue services.
“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,” he said.
The minister also called for the introduction of rescue techniques and emergency response education into school curricula, arguing that Nigerians should acquire basic lifesaving skills.
He said, “What percentage of Nigerians can even do a single resuscitation process? So we must make sure that rescue becomes our way of life, because you never can tell who that next person is you will be in a position to help.
“It might be your mother, it might be your son, it might be your daughter, it might even be somebody who is very important to you.”
Tunji-Ojo said the Federal Fire Service would also coordinate policies to promote uniformity in fire safety standards across the country, while working with state and local authorities.
He disclosed that the Federal Government had commenced the construction of a fire service academy in Kwali, Abuja, which he said was about 65 per cent completed and expected to be ready by December.
According to him, the facility, which occupies about 23 hectares, will have training classrooms, a library, a health centre and accommodation for more than 3,000 trainees.
He said the government had also expanded the agency’s leadership structure from one Deputy Controller-General to three and increased its commands from six to 18.
Earlier, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Adeyemi, said the 2026 National Fire Safety Week was designed to promote public awareness and strengthen participation in preventing fire incidents.
Adeyemi said this year’s theme, ‘Building a Fire-Resilient Nigeria: Don’t Go Missing at a Time,’ highlighted the need for individuals, communities and institutions to embrace fire safety practices.
He said awareness campaigns would be conducted simultaneously across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with activities covering motor parks, schools, markets and plazas.
The controller-general added that the programme would also feature a roadshow and the distribution of fire safety materials translated into indigenous languages.
He disclosed that the service had trained 713 officers in the previous week, while another 750 personnel were undergoing training.
Adeyemi said effective fire prevention and emergency response required cooperation among government institutions, the private sector, communities and individuals.
