By Tunji Braimoh, Abuja

The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Samuel Adeyemi Olumode, on Saturday led members of the management team and staff of the Service on a 2 kilometre Fitness and Wellness Road Walk aimed at promoting physical fitness, healthy living and operational preparedness among personnel.

The exercise, themed “Fit to Serve, Ready to Protect,” brought together officers and men of the Service in a show of unity, discipline and commitment to duty. For the duration of the event, firefighting equipment gave way to running shoes as participants engaged in the fitness exercise designed to improve their physical and mental wellbeing.

Speaking during the exercise, Olumode emphasised the importance of maintaining a healthy and active workforce, noting that emergency responders must always be physically and mentally prepared to meet the demands of their responsibilities.He stated that the nature of firefighting and rescue operations requires personnel to possess a high level of endurance, agility and resilience, qualities that can only be sustained through regular fitness activities and healthy lifestyle practices.

The Controller General noted that the road walk was not merely a recreational activity but an integral part of the Service’s broader strategy to enhance efficiency, professionalism and responsiveness in emergency situations.

According to him, personnel who train together, exercise together and maintain healthy habits are better positioned to work as a cohesive team when responding to fire outbreaks, rescue operations and other emergencies.He further stressed that physical fitness remains a critical component of operational effectiveness, as firefighters are often required to perform strenuous tasks under challenging and hazardous conditions.

The event also provided an opportunity for officers and personnel to strengthen teamwork, build camaraderie and reinforce the spirit of collective responsibility that defines the Federal Fire Service.Participants expressed enthusiasm for the initiative, describing it as a welcome development that promotes wellness while fostering stronger bonds among colleagues across various departments and units.The Service reiterated its commitment to the welfare and wellbeing of its personnel, recognising that a healthy workforce is essential to achieving its mandate of protecting lives, property and critical national assets.

The fitness walk concluded with renewed determination among participants to remain physically fit, professionally prepared and ever ready to respond whenever duty calls.The programme underscored the Federal Fire Service’s belief that effective emergency response begins with a healthy workforce, reinforcing the message that officers must remain fit to serve and ready to protect communities across the country.