The Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s resolve to complete the National Fire Academy (NFA), Sheda, Abuja, by May 2026. Speaking during an inspection tour of the project site, the Minister directed contractors to speed up work and ensure strict adherence to the delivery timeline.
“If it requires creating more hours in a day, then it must be done. I want this project delivered in May,” the Minister stated emphatically, stressing the urgency attached to the completion of what he described as a critical national asset.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary leadership and sustained commitment to strengthening agencies under the Ministry of Interior. He described the National Fire Academy as one of the most significant capacity-building investments in the history of the Federal Fire Service and a key component of the President’s broader reform agenda.
According to the Minister, the Academy will significantly reduce the huge capital outlay previously spent on specialised overseas training in rescue and emergency response. By establishing a world-class paramilitary training institution within Nigeria, the Federal Government will conserve foreign exchange, build local expertise, and position the country as a regional hub for advanced emergency management training.
He further noted that the Academy’s mandate goes beyond conventional firefighting, reflecting the expanded responsibilities of the Federal Fire Service in comprehensive emergency response, disaster risk reduction, and national resilience. The facility will offer structured professional development and career advancement opportunities for officers, while also providing certified training programmes for private sector operators and other safety stakeholders.
In his remarks, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, disclosed that the Service currently has over 11,000 personnel nationwide. He revealed that the Academy has the capacity to accommodate up to 3,000 trainees at a time, significantly enhancing the Service’s institutional training capacity.
The Controller-General added that the Academy features a state-of-the-art fire simulation complex, known as “The Fire House,” regarded as the largest of its kind in Africa and equipped to deliver advanced search and rescue training in line with global best practices. He described the project as one of the most impactful legacy initiatives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu within the Federal Fire Service.
Beyond strengthening institutional capacity, the National Fire Academy is also expected to generate significant economic benefits. Improved emergency response capabilities will reduce disaster-related losses, protect critical infrastructure, safeguard investments, and enhance public safety — all of which are essential to economic stability and national development.
The Federal Fire Service remains committed to protecting lives and property, enhancing emergency preparedness, and fulfilling its statutory mandate in line with the vision of the Honourable Minister of Interior and the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.