The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Samuel Olumode Adeyemi, has urged the full integration of fire safety into Nigeria’s national security framework.
Speaking at the opening of the 2025 National Fire Safety Week on Monday at the FFS headquarters in Abuja, Adeyemi stressed the need for more functional fire hydrants nationwide, deliberate inclusion of fire safety in security planning, and the restoration of the Fire Service’s prestige.
Adeyemi reaffirmed that under his leadership, the FFS will continue to modernize its operations by adopting technology for early detection, improving response times, enhancing personnel welfare, strengthening training, and deepening community engagement.
He added, “We will reform the Service to deliver the level of safety required to support the President’s one-trillion-naira economic base plan.”
Outlining activities for Fire Safety Week, he said officers across the country would carry out school safety sensitization, market inspections, community drills, industrial risk assessments, and public fire prevention demonstrations.
He urged Nigerians to abandon the belief that fire disasters happen only to others, saying the “it is not my portion” mindset fuels dangerous complacency.
“Fires do not discriminate,” he warned. “They obey only the laws of science and negligence, and when they strike, the consequences are often devastating and irreversible.”
“This year, our message is simple: Fire safety is everyone’s responsibility. We must replace wishful thinking with practical action—incorporating safety designs into building plans, checking gas cylinders, switching off electrical appliances when not in use, installing smoke detectors, ensuring clear escape routes, and adhering strictly to safety standards.”