The Federal Government has called on wealthy Nigerians, philanthropists, business leaders and corporate organisations to invest in the establishment of fire stations across the country, saying firefighting and emergency response should be regarded as a collective responsibility.
Adeyemi Olumode, Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), made the call on Friday in Abuja at a One-Day National Stakeholders’ Summit on Fire Safety, held under the theme, ‘Building a Resilient Fire Service for the 21st Century.’
Olumode said the country needed a greater number of strategically located fire stations to bring emergency response closer to communities, reduce response time and minimise the loss of lives and property during fire outbreaks.
According to him, government alone cannot provide all the infrastructure required to effectively respond to fire emergencies across Nigeria, making private-sector and community investment critical to strengthening the national fire safety architecture.
He cited the Offa Descendant Association Fire Station, Oyo Town Fire Station, Idanre Fire Station, Bonny Island Fire Station and Kugbo Fire Station as examples of successful interventions by individuals, communities and organisations.
The Controller-General said such initiatives should not be viewed merely as acts of philanthropy, but as direct investments in the protection of lives, businesses, communities and property.
‘We need a multiplicity of strategically located fire stations to bring emergency response closer to our people and reduce response time,’ he said.
Olumode also disclosed that the summit coincided with the first anniversary of his assumption of office as Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service on August 14, 2025.
He said the anniversary provided an opportunity for the Service to take stock of its activities and achievements over the past year, stressing that the date of the summit was not deliberately chosen to mark his anniversary.
Among the achievements recorded during the period, he listed the rehabilitation of 40 firefighting appliances, the provision of two modern firefighting appliances and the supply of more than 2,000 pieces of personal protective equipment for firefighters.
He added that more than 700 cadet officers had undergone basic firefighting training and had subsequently been deployed to various commands across the country.
The FFS boss said the Service had also expanded its specialised operational capabilities through counter-terrorism training conducted in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the Armed Forces.
He further disclosed that the National Fire Academy was undergoing upgrades, expressing confidence that the institution would become the best firefighter training academy in Africa when reopened.
The summit also featured the induction of 37 Public Relations Officers (PROs) drawn from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
Olumode described the exercise as historic, noting that it was the first time officers responsible for public communication across the Service’s state commands had been brought together under a coordinated and structured professional training and certification programme.
He said the initiative was designed to improve the way the Federal Fire Service communicates with the public, particularly during emergencies when timely and accurate information could save lives.
‘This is much more than issuing certificates. We are professionalising the way the Federal Fire Service communicates with Nigerians,’ he said.
The Controller-General said the newly inducted PROs would be expected to develop expertise in strategic and crisis communication, media relations, stakeholder engagement, public education and reputation management.
They would also have to understand the growing challenges posed by misinformation and inaccurate reports during emergencies.
Olumode stressed that fire incidents should not be regarded solely as operational emergencies, arguing that effective communication was equally important to emergency management.
He said public trust remained fundamental to the ability of the Fire Service to protect lives and property, particularly when members of the public needed to respond quickly to instructions from emergency personnel.
The Controller-General commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) for its collaboration with the Federal Fire Service on fire safety in tertiary institutions.
He also praised the Tony Elumelu Foundation for partnering with the Service on fire safety preparedness training for 7,740 Nigerians, with a target of extending the programme to 10 people in every local government area.
According to him, expanding fire safety awareness and preparedness beyond government institutions to communities, businesses and households was essential to reducing the impact of fire incidents.
Olumode also appreciated the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations and Rightangle PR for supporting the Service’s efforts to strengthen its professional communication capacity.
He extended his appreciation to government institutions, private-sector organisations and members of the media for their continued support of the Fire Service.
The Controller-General also urged Nigerians to play an active role in facilitating emergency response whenever fire incidents occur.
He appealed to motorists and other road users to give fire appliances a clear path, warning that traffic congestion and obstruction could significantly delay firefighters from reaching affected locations.
He also urged members of the public to avoid unnecessary crowds at fire scenes and to refrain from spreading unverified information that could complicate emergency operations.
Olumode called for greater public cooperation with emergency responders, stressing that reducing fire-related deaths and destruction required the combined efforts of government agencies, businesses, communities and individuals.
He said the Federal Fire Service would continue to strengthen its operational capacity, professionalise its personnel and deepen partnerships with stakeholders as part of efforts to build a more responsive and resilient fire safety system for the country.