The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Olumode Adeyemi Samuel, has inaugurated a Special Task Force on Public and Private Building Audit as part of renewed efforts to enforce fire safety standards and enhance national resilience.

The inauguration ceremony, held at the Service Headquarters in Abuja, reflected the theme, “Strengthening Fire Safety Compliance in Public Buildings: A Call to Action for National Resilience.” It marked a decisive step by the FFS toward proactive fire risk management and preventing avoidable disasters across the country.

Speaking at the event, the Controller General emphasized the urgent need for stricter enforcement of fire safety standards, citing the growing number of fire incidents in major cities, including the recent Afritower fire in Lagos and multiple plaza fires in Abuja. He said the trend highlighted serious lapses in compliance among property owners and facility managers.

Olumode explained that the newly inaugurated Task Force would be responsible for mapping public buildings across the nation, assessing their fire risk levels, inspecting facilities to determine their compliance with safety regulations, and providing policy recommendations to guide enforcement and preventive actions.

Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to protecting lives, property, and critical infrastructure, the Controller General described fire safety as a collective obligation, stressing that “fire safety is not a choice but a shared responsibility.”

The Task Force, chaired by Assistant Controller General Bolarinde Tajudeen Muhammed, Head of the Inspection, Investigation, and Enforcement Department, includes senior officers such as the Deputy Controller of Operations (FCT Command), the Provost Marshal, the National Public Relations Officer, and the Legal Director, who serves as the secretariat.

Declaring the Task Force inaugurated, the Controller General charged its members to approach their duties with professionalism, integrity, and full dedication to the Service’s mandate of safeguarding public and private spaces. He also appealed to owners and managers of public and commercial buildings to cooperate fully with the Task Force during the audit exercise, assuring that the operation was aimed at saving lives and strengthening the nation’s overall safety architecture.