The Federal Government has announced plans to replace the 63-year-old Federal Fire Service Act with a new law that will expand the agency’s responsibilities to cover emergency medical services, search-and-rescue operations and responses to hazardous materials incidents.
The proposed legislation will transform the Federal Fire Service (FFS) into the Federal Fire and Rescue Service, giving it broader powers to respond to different types of emergencies beyond conventional firefighting.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja during the opening ceremony of the 2026 National Fire Safety Week.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the existing law, which dates back to 1963, no longer reflects the demands and responsibilities of a modern emergency response agency.
According to him, the government is working to establish a legal framework that will give the service the authority to carry out additional emergency response duties.
He said the proposed legislation had reached an advanced stage and was expected to be presented to the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Thursday.
The minister noted that the current law restricts the agency from performing certain emergency duties because it does not provide the necessary legal backing.
He explained that the government’s vision was to develop a fire service capable of responding to road accidents, flooding, medical emergencies and incidents involving dangerous chemicals and toxic substances.
Tunji-Ojo said his ambition was to transform the agency into a comprehensive rescue organisation rather than limiting its operations to fire prevention and firefighting.
He stressed that the service should have the capacity to provide first aid, emergency medical assistance and specialised rescue operations whenever disasters occur.
The minister also highlighted the need for specialised personnel and equipment to handle emergencies involving toxic gases, chemical substances, aviation accidents and other hazardous materials.
Using the flooding in Maiduguri, Borno State, following the collapse of the Alau Dam as an example, he explained that a properly equipped rescue service would be better positioned to support communities during major disasters.
He further emphasised the importance of strengthening fire prevention, routine inspections and enforcement of safety regulations across the country.
According to him, the government is considering the establishment of fire marshals at district, ward, town and village levels to identify potential fire hazards and prevent incidents before they occur.
Tunji-Ojo maintained that protecting lives and property remained one of the fundamental responsibilities of government, stressing that fire safety must receive greater attention nationwide.
He also called for the inclusion of basic rescue skills, first aid and emergency response training in the country’s educational system.
The minister expressed concern that many Nigerians lack the knowledge required to perform basic emergency procedures, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), when someone needs immediate medical assistance.
He said teaching citizens these skills would help build a society where people could respond effectively to emergencies and save lives.
Meanwhile, Tunji-Ojo disclosed that the Federal Government was concluding the recruitment of approximately 5,000 additional personnel into the Federal Fire Service.
He also announced that the National Fire Academy in Kwali, Federal Capital Territory, was expected to be completed by December 2026.
The minister said construction of the facility was about 85 per cent complete and that it would have the capacity to accommodate more than 3,000 trainees at a time.
The academy is expected to provide specialised training for firefighters and other emergency response personnel.
On equipment, Tunji-Ojo said the government had procured several firefighting materials, including fire trucks, firefighting foam chemicals, protective fire tunics and breathing apparatus.
He explained that the administration had identified inadequate protective equipment as one of the major challenges facing firefighters when it assumed office.
According to him, providing firefighters with the necessary protective gear was essential to ensuring their safety while carrying out dangerous rescue operations.
Earlier, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, said activities marking the 2026 National Fire Safety Week would include public awareness campaigns across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
Adeyemi explained that the campaigns would target motor parks, schools, markets and other public places to educate Nigerians on fire prevention and safety practices.
He said the awareness programmes would be delivered in languages that people understand to ensure that important safety information reaches communities effectively.
The Controller-General urged Nigerians to handle electrical appliances carefully, use cooking equipment responsibly, store flammable materials safely and report potential fire hazards promptly.
He added that reducing fire outbreaks across the country would require sustained public education, improved safety practices and increased investment in emergency response infrastructure.
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