The Federal Government has concluded plans to repeal the 1963 Fire Service Act and replace it with a new law that will transform the Federal Fire Service into the Federal Fire and Rescue Service, significantly expanding its responsibilities beyond conventional firefighting.
Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, while opening the 2026 National Fire Safety Week in Abuja on Monday, disclosed that the proposed legislation had completed its defence at the Federal Executive Council, FEC, level and would be presented for consideration this week.
According to the minister, the new legislation will empower the agency to provide emergency medical services, search and rescue operations, hazardous materials, HAZMAT, response, accident investigation and disaster management, bringing Nigeria’s fire and rescue framework in line with modern global standards.
“For the first time in 63 years, this President has taken the bull by the horns,” Tunji-Ojo said, adding that the government intends to establish a fully-fledged rescue service capable of responding to road crashes, floods, structural collapses and other emergencies.
He argued that the existing law, enacted in 1963, has become outdated and no longer reflects current realities in emergency management.
“You cannot have a Fire Service Act of 1963 and think it will be near 2026 compliant. It doesn’t make sense,” the minister said.
Tunji-Ojo stressed that the government envisions a fire and rescue agency that serves as the nation’s primary emergency responder, capable of delivering first aid, conducting rescue missions and handling incidents involving toxic and hazardous substances.
In a statement that highlights the administration’s broader vision for the agency, the minister said the fire service must move beyond extinguishing fires to becoming a proactive institution focused on preventing disasters and saving lives before emergencies occur.
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Similar remarks were made in 2023 when he described the service as “a sleeping giant” that should evolve into a comprehensive rescue organisation.
The minister also advocated the inclusion of basic rescue and emergency response training in school curricula, noting that many Nigerians lack essential lifesaving skills such as cardiopulmonary resuscitation, CPR.
Beyond operational reforms, Tunji-Ojo revealed that the Federal Government is constructing a Fire Service Academy in Kwali, Abuja which is about 65 per cent completed, is expected to be operational by December and will accommodate more than 3,000 trainees featuring classrooms, a library, a health centre and residential facilities.
He further disclosed that the agency’s leadership structure has been expanded from one Deputy Controller-General to three, while its operational commands have increased from six to 18 as part of ongoing reforms.
Earlier, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Adeyemi, said the 2026 National Fire Safety Week was designed to deepen public awareness and strengthen citizen participation in fire prevention efforts.
Adeyemi explained that this year’s theme,”Building a Fire-Resilient Nigeria: Don’t Go Missing at a Time,” underscores the need for individuals, communities and institutions to embrace fire safety practices.
He added that awareness campaigns, roadshows and community sensitisation programmes would be conducted across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The controller-general also disclosed that about 750 personnel are currently undergoing training to improve operational capacity, while plans are underway to further strengthen professional training and fire safety infrastructure nationwide.
The proposed reform represents one of the most significant overhauls of Nigeria’s fire service architecture since the establishment of the Federal Fire Service through an Act of Parliament in April 1963.
THE PUNCH
