The Federal Government has urged wealthy Nigerians, philanthropists, business leaders and corporate organisations to support the establishment of fire stations across the country.
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. The summit was held under the theme, “Building a Resilient Fire Service for the 21st Century.”
Adeyemi said Nigeria needed more strategically located fire stations to bring emergency response closer to communities and reduce the time required to respond to fire incidents. He described private investment in fire stations as an investment in lives and property rather than ordinary philanthropy.
According to him, initiatives such as the Offa Descendant Association Fire Station, Oyo Town Fire Station, Idanre Fire Station, Bonny Island Fire Station and Kugbo Fire Station demonstrated the impact individuals, communities and organisations could make when they invested directly in public safety.
The Controller General said firefighting should not be regarded solely as the responsibility of government, stressing that communities and the private sector also had important roles to play in protecting lives and property.
The summit also coincided with Adeyemi’s first anniversary as Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, having assumed office on August 14, 2025. Reflecting on the past year, he listed the rehabilitation of 40 firefighting appliances among the achievements recorded by the Service.
He also disclosed that two modern firefighting appliances and more than 2,000 pieces of personal protective equipment had been supplied to strengthen operational capacity. According to him, more than 700 cadet officers had received basic firefighting training and were subsequently deployed across various commands.
Adeyemi added that the Service had expanded its specialised capabilities through counter-terrorism training conducted in collaboration with the Office of the National Security Adviser and the armed forces. He further said efforts were ongoing to upgrade the National Fire Academy, expressing confidence that the institution would become Africa’s leading firefighter training centre when reopened.
The summit also featured the induction of 37 Public Relations Officers from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations.
Adeyemi described the exercise as historic, noting that it represented the first coordinated training programme bringing together officers from all states and the FCT for professional recognition and certification. He said the initiative was aimed at improving how the Fire Service communicates with Nigerians, particularly during emergencies.
“This is much more than issuing certificates. We are professionalising the way the Federal Fire Service communicates with Nigerians.”
Adeyemi said the officers would be expected to develop skills in strategic and crisis communication, media relations, stakeholder engagement, public education and reputation management.
He also highlighted the challenge posed by misinformation during emergencies, stressing that effective communication was essential to maintaining public confidence. According to him, fire incidents should be viewed not only as operational emergencies but also as communication challenges requiring accurate and timely information.
The Controller General commended the Tertiary Education Trust Fund for its collaboration with the Service on fire safety in tertiary institutions.
He also acknowledged the Tony Elumelu Foundation for partnering with the Service on fire safety preparedness training for 7,740 Nigerians, with an eventual target of reaching 10 people in every local government area.
Adeyemi appreciated the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Rightangle PR, government agencies, private-sector organisations and members of the media for supporting the Service’s efforts to improve fire safety and public communication.
He, however, called on Nigerians to contribute to emergency response by keeping access routes clear for fire appliances and avoiding unnecessary crowds around fire incidents.
He also urged members of the public to share only verified information with emergency responders, saying responsible public conduct could help firefighters respond more effectively when lives and property are at risk.
