Nigerian Govt Moves To Repeal 63-Year-Old Fire Service Act, Establish Federal Fire And Rescue Service

The Federal Government has concluded plans to repeal the 63-year-old Fire Service Act of 1963 and introduce a brand new authorized framework establishing the Federal Fire and Rescue Service.

The proposed laws is anticipated to increase the tasks of the company past standard firefighting to incorporate emergency medical help, search and rescue operations, hazardous supplies administration, catastrophe response and accident investigation.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Monday in Abuja through the 2026 National Fire Safety Week, saying the proposed laws had accomplished its defence on the Federal Executive Council (FEC) stage and was anticipated to be introduced on Thursday.

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According to the minister, the proposed regulation will repeal the prevailing Federal Fire Service Act and supply the company with the mandatory statutory powers to answer rising emergency administration challenges throughout the nation.

Tunji-Ojo defined that the prevailing laws, enacted in 1963, had develop into outdated and not mirrored the realities of recent emergency response operations.

He stated the restrictions imposed by the present regulation had restricted the operational capability of the Federal Fire Service, notably in areas requiring intervention past extinguishing fires.

“For the first time in 63 years, this President has taken the bull by the horns. As I speak to you, I think we have finished defending it. It should be laid this week, Thursday, at the level of the Federal Executive Council,” he stated.

The minister added that the proposed laws would rework the company right into a Federal Fire and Rescue Service beneath the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

He maintained that the absence of acceptable authorized provisions might expose officers to authorized issues when finishing up emergency operations exterior their present statutory tasks.

“You cannot have a Fire Service Act of 1963 and think it will be near 2026 compliant. It doesn’t make sense. And if the law does not give you the power to do certain things, it makes the job of this man in uniform impossible to do,” he stated.

Under the proposed framework, the restructured company will develop into a primary responder throughout emergencies resembling highway accidents, floods, earthquakes and incidents involving poisonous substances.

Its expanded tasks will embody first assist, emergency medical companies, specialised rescue operations, hazardous supplies response, catastrophe administration and accident investigations.

Tunji-Ojo notably recognized hazardous supplies administration, popularly generally known as HAZMAT response, as a crucial element of the proposed reform.

He stated the federal government’s intention was to determine a service able to rescuing accident victims, offering emergency medical help and responding to harmful incidents involving poisonous gases and different hazardous substances.

The minister additionally advocated the introduction of primary rescue methods and emergency response training into the nation’s faculty curriculum.

He expressed concern that many Nigerians lacked the data required to carry out primary lifesaving procedures, together with resuscitation, throughout emergencies.

According to him, equipping residents with primary emergency response expertise would strengthen group participation in saving lives.

He additional disclosed that the restructured service would work with state governments and native authorities to advertise uniform hearth security requirements and coordinate emergency response insurance policies nationwide.

Fire Service Commands Expanded

As a part of the federal government’s efforts to strengthen the company’s operational capability, Tunji-Ojo introduced that the variety of Federal Fire Service instructions had elevated from six to 18.

He additionally disclosed that the variety of Deputy Controller-Generals had been elevated from one to 3 to enhance the company’s administrative and operational construction.

The minister additional revealed that the Federal Government was developing a hearth service academy in Kwali, Abuja, to enhance skilled coaching and personnel improvement.

He stated the academy was roughly 65 per cent full and was anticipated to be prepared by December 2026.

The facility, which occupies about 23 hectares, may have coaching school rooms, a library, a well being centre and lodging services able to housing greater than 3,000 trainees.

713 Officers Trained

Earlier, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Adeyemi, stated the 2026 National Fire Safety Week was designed to advertise public consciousness and encourage higher participation in hearth prevention and security practices.

Adeyemi stated this 12 months’s theme, “Building a Fire-Resilient Nigeria: Don’t Go Missing at a Time,” underscored the significance of collective accountability in stopping hearth incidents and responding successfully to emergencies.

He disclosed that public consciousness campaigns can be performed concurrently throughout the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

The campaigns would cowl motor parks, colleges, markets and buying plazas, alongside roadshows and the distribution of fireside security supplies translated into indigenous languages.

The Controller-General additionally revealed that 713 officers had undergone coaching within the previous week, whereas one other 750 personnel have been present process coaching.

He harassed that efficient hearth prevention and emergency response required the cooperation of presidency establishments, the personal sector, communities and people.