The Federal Fire Service (FFS) has unveiled a major national capacity-building initiative in partnership with the Tony Elumelu Foundation (TEF) to train 7,400 Nigerians on fire safety preparedness across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory.
The initiative was formalised during a courtesy visit to TEF Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Tony Elumelu, at the Hilton, Abuja. The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Samuel Olumode, led a delegation of senior management personnel to the meeting.
According to a statement by FFS spokesperson Paul Abraham, the Service also conferred the title of National Fire Safety Ambassador on Mr. Peter Ashade, Group CEO of United Capital Plc, in recognition of the Heirs Group’s sustained contributions to promoting safety awareness and supporting community-oriented fire prevention programmes.
The honour strengthens the growing collaboration between the Federal Fire Service and the Tony Elumelu ecosystem.
As part of the partnership, FFS personnel will be stationed across all facilities within Elumelu’s business network nationwide. They will serve as safety officers, supporting compliance, enhancing monitoring, and boosting fire prevention awareness across the group’s extensive infrastructure.
Elumelu emphasized the urgent need to expand fire safety education at the grassroots, noting that many households, markets, and local settlements remain highly susceptible to fire outbreaks due to inadequate preventive knowledge. He stressed that equipping citizens with practical, life-saving skills is essential to improving national resilience and reducing avoidable losses.
Under the programme, 200 individuals will be trained in each state and the FCT, amounting to 7,400 beneficiaries. The training will cover fire-prevention techniques, early warning signs, and basic emergency response measures. Participants are also expected to become community fire safety advocates, helping to spread awareness and promote responsible behaviour across their localities.
Controller General Olumode described the collaboration as a landmark step toward adopting a preventive rather than reactive approach to fire management in Nigeria. He expressed appreciation to Elumelu and the Foundation for championing a community-based model that aligns with global standards, assuring that the training would be delivered professionally and transparently, with measurable impact nationwide.
The initiative is expected to significantly improve community preparedness, enhance initial response capability, and build a lasting culture of fire safety across Nigeria.
