Text of the Speech Delivered by the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service,
CGF Samuel Adeyemi Olumode,
at the 2025 Annual People’s Security Monitor Security Summit and Recognition Awards

Held on Wednesday, 10 December 2025,
at the Nigerian National Merit Award House,
Maitama, Abuja.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen esteemed colleagues security

practitioners and partners in national development it is a great

honour for me to stand before this distinguished gathering at the 2025

Peoples Security Monitor Security Summit and Recognition Awards. I

commend the organisers for sustaining this important platform for

national dialogue on safety security and institutional development.

The theme of my keynote Institutional Renewal for Fire Service A

Blueprint for Effective Response is both timely and essential. As

nations evolve so must their emergency response systems particularly

fire and rescue services which are at the heart of public safety and

national resilience.

Fire disasters remain one of the most underestimated threats to human

lives and economic stability in Nigeria. Our collective ability to

prevent respond to and mitigate fire incidents is therefore a measure

of our nations preparedness for modern challenges. Institutional

renewal is not an abstract idea it refers to deliberate reforms across

structures operations technology and organisational culture all aimed

at repositioning the Fire Service to meet global standards.

Across the world fire services have embraced digital technology

advanced training predictive risk mapping and rapid deployment

systems. Nigeria must also align with these trends to ensure that our

response is not only timely but effective and efficient.

A core pillar of institutional renewal is the modernisation of

equipment. Firefighting today relies heavily on modern tools including

advanced appliances drones thermal imagers fire retardant gear and

specialised rescue equipment. We are committed to upgrading our fleet

and improving operational readiness across all commands.

Another important pillar is capacity building. Training must reflect

current realities. We are expanding specialised courses in

firefighting urban search and rescue and fire investigation all in

line with international best practices. To support this level of

training and knowledge expansion the Nigeria Fire Academy is being

revitalised to become a regional centre of excellence for fire and

rescue development in West Africa.

Institutional renewal also requires restructuring of operational

systems. We are strengthening zonal and state commands improving

reporting systems and establishing rapid response units capable of

deploying within minutes when emergencies arise. In addition we are

adopting data driven approaches to decision making through improved

fire statistics collection incident documentation and risk analysis.

Accurate data will greatly enhance our ability to predict fire trends

and prevent avoidable losses.

Enhancing interagency collaboration remains a priority. Fire

emergencies often require cooperation with the police civil defence

disaster management agencies and emergency medical responders. We are

strengthening these partnerships to improve the speed coordination and

efficiency of response operations.

Community engagement is equally central to the success of any fire

service. Public education remains one of the strongest tools for

prevention. Every year billions of naira in property livelihoods and

productivity are lost to preventable fires. Nigerians must understand

that fire is not just a safety risk it is a major economic threat. We

will intensify awareness campaigns across markets schools residential

estates and industrial areas.

I therefore appeal to Nigerians to cooperate more with the Federal

Fire Service by adhering to safety guidelines installing basic fire

equipment at home and work and reporting emergencies promptly. Fire

safety is a collective responsibility.

As we pursue institutional renewal we are placing strong emphasis on

staff welfare. A motivated workforce is essential for effective

response. We are improving training opportunities insurance coverage

career progression pathways and working conditions for firefighters

nationwide.

Another critical component of renewal is the expansion of fire

stations across the country. Many communities remain underserved. Our

blueprint includes establishing new fire stations and strengthening

existing ones to reduce response time and improve national coverage.

Modern firefighting is closely connected to environmental management.

We are integrating climate related risks such as heatwaves droughts

and wildfires into our national preparedness strategy.

The private sector also has a significant role to play in fire safety.

We are strengthening regulations for industrial compliance enhancing

fire certification procedures and encouraging private partnerships for

equipment acquisition and training.

Innovation remains an essential pillar. Young officers are being

encouraged to develop digital tools early warning systems and other

creative solutions that will shape the Fire Service of the future.

As Controller General I have outlined a Five Point Revitalisation

Agenda that focuses on modern equipment advanced training operational

restructuring community engagement and staff welfare. This agenda will

guide our transformation efforts in the years ahead.

I am pleased to note that these reforms align strongly with the

Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. His commitment to

strengthening emergency response institutions has given life to many

of the reforms now taking shape within the Fire Service. Under his

leadership we have witnessed improved funding renewed attention to

infrastructure and unprecedented support for long overdue

transformation.

I also extend profound appreciation to the Honourable Minister of

Interior for his consistent guidance policy direction and support. His

commitment to the growth of the Fire Service has been pivotal to the

progress we are making.

As we look toward the future our goal remains clear to build a modern

proactive well equipped and globally competitive Fire Service that

Nigerians can trust and rely on in every emergency.

Together as government institutions communities and citizens we can

build a nation where fire no longer steals lives destroys property or

undermines economic growth.

Thank you and may God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.