The Minister of Interior, Hon. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called for urgent reform of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), including a new legal framework to empower the agency and allow private sector participation.
Speaking at the Ministry of Interior Mid-Tenure/2025 Sectoral Performance Retreat in Suleja, Niger State, Tunji-Ojo described the Fire Service Act of 1963 as “obsolete and inadequate,” stressing that it neither reflects current realities nor grants the FFS prosecutorial or regulatory authority.
“By law today, the fire service cannot prosecute, cannot enumerate, and cannot even regulate. When a government agency lacks prosecution, regulation and enforcement powers, it becomes a toothless dog,” he said.
The Minister argued that Nigeria’s population growth and expanding economy demand modern fire and rescue systems that cannot be sustained by government funding alone. He advocated licensing private firefighting and rescue companies, as practiced in advanced economies such as Japan, China and the United States.
He noted that effective emergency response is critical to investor confidence. “No serious investor will put money in a country where there is no emergency response system. Most fire incidents could have been avoided with immediate response,” he added.
Tunji-Ojo disclosed that his ministry was in talks with the National Assembly on amending the Fire Service Act to align with global best practices and equip the FFS with regulatory authority.
Beyond fire service reform, he criticized the frequent redeployment of paramilitary officers across unrelated units, describing the practice as wasteful and counterproductive. He urged for structured career progression within the Interior Ministry’s agencies to strengthen specialization in border management, migration and other critical areas.
He further emphasized that emergency services are central to national security and economic stability, noting that in countries like the US and UK, emergency medical services are integrated with fire services.
The Minister called on lawmakers, stakeholders and the private sector to support the government in building a modern, responsive fire and rescue framework, describing it as vital for public safety, investment and sustainable growth.
