The Federal Government has urged wealthy Nigerians, philanthropists, business leaders and corporate organisations to support the establishment of fire stations nationwide.
The government said expanding the country’s firefighting infrastructure would bring emergency services closer to communities and reduce the time required to respond to fire incidents.
The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Adeyemi Samuel Olumode, made the call on Thursday in Abuja at a One-Day National Stakeholders’ Summit on Fire Safety. The summit was held under the theme, “Building a Resilient Fire Service for the 21st Century.”
Adeyemi said Nigeria needed several strategically located fire stations to strengthen emergency response across communities. 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 private and community-led investment in fire safety. According to him, such initiatives should not be viewed simply as philanthropy. He described them as investments in protecting lives and property.
“Firefighting is the responsibility of everyone,” the Controller General said, urging individuals and organisations with the capacity to support the establishment of fire stations nationwide.
The summit also coincided with one year since Adeyemi assumed office on August 14, 2025. Reflecting on his first year, he listed the rehabilitation of 40 firefighting appliances among the Service’s achievements.
He said two modern firefighting appliances had also been supplied, alongside more than 2,000 pieces of personal protective equipment. More than 700 cadet officers, according to him, had received basic firefighting training and were subsequently deployed across various commands.
The Service has also strengthened its specialised capabilities through counter-terrorism training conducted in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the armed forces. Adeyemi further said upgrades were ongoing at the National Fire Academy, which he expects to become Africa’s leading firefighter training institution when reopened.
The summit also featured the induction of 37 Public Relations Officers from Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations. Adeyemi described the exercise as historic, noting that it was the first time officers from all states and the FCT had undergone coordinated and structured training aimed at professional recognition and certification.
“This is much more than issuing certificates. We are professionalising the way the Federal Fire Service communicates with Nigerians,” he said.
He said fire service PROs must understand strategic and crisis communication, media relations, stakeholder engagement, public education and reputation management. Adeyemi also highlighted the dangers posed by misinformation during emergencies. He said fire incidents were not merely operational events but also communication challenges, stressing that public trust remained essential to effective emergency response.
The Controller General commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund for its partnership on fire safety in tertiary institutions. He also acknowledged the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s collaboration with the Service on fire preparedness training.
According to him, the programme targets 7,740 Nigerians, with the broader objective of reaching 10 people in every local government area. Adeyemi also appreciated the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Rightangle PR, government agencies, private-sector partners and members of the media for supporting the Service’s communication and safety initiatives.
The Federal Fire Service chief finally appealed to Nigerians to cooperate with firefighters during emergencies. He urged motorists and residents to keep access routes clear for fire appliances and advised the public to avoid unnecessary crowds around emergency scenes.
He also called on Nigerians to provide responders with verified information rather than spreading unconfirmed reports. Adeyemi said stronger public cooperation, improved infrastructure and increased investment in fire stations nationwide would collectively strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to respond to emergencies and protect lives and property.
