Minister of interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to increasing investments in fire safety infrastructure. This initiative aims to establish Nigeria as a leading force in fire safety training across Africa and provide global solutions to fire-related challenges.
Tunji-Ojo made this announcement when he played host to His Royal Highness Etsu Luka Ayedo Nizassan III, and chairman of the Council of Chiefs in Kwali Area Council, and Hon. Danladi Chiya, chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) FCT Chapter, at his office in Abuja.
He emphasised that Nigeria’s significant role in Africa should not involve sending personnel abroad for fire services training. “We believe that other countries should come here for capacity building,” he asserted.
The minister highlighted the need for Nigeria to develop a robust firefighting infrastructure, stating, “Given Nigeria’s size and population, we require nothing less than 500,000 firefighters, including specialists in Emergency Medical Services (EMS), fire inspectors, and hazardous materials technicians. Countries with similar economic profiles have established strong firefighting capacities, and Nigeria should follow suit. Our goal is to provide not just a good solution, but the best solution for Nigerians.”
He disclosed that to achieve this, plans are underway to expand the National Fire Academy in Abuja. The Minister noted that the academy’s current landmass needs to be increased to support large-scale training initiatives. “Fire academies globally are extensive, and ours should be no different. We are considering collaborations with the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and other agencies to explore domestic production of critical fire safety equipment, such as fire extinguishers, alarms, and sprinkler systems,” he added.
The Minister stressed that this expansion is not solely about enhancing human capacity but also about contributing to the industrialization of parts of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). “The essence of government is to add value, and by localizing the production of fire safety products, we will be fulfilling this mandate,” he said.
Earlier, His Royal Highness, Etsu Luka Ayedo Nizassan III, emphasised the need for local representation in recruitment, especially for the youth in his chiefdom. He said, “Our community is predominantly youthful with many qualified individuals eager to serve. However, inconsistent adherence to the Federal Character principle has led to instances where people from other areas present certificates of indigeneity, thus denying opportunities to our own,” he stated.