The Federal Government has announced plans to repeal the 1963 Fire Service Act and introduce a new law that will transform the Federal Fire Service into the Federal Fire and Rescue Service.
The Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, made this known on Monday during the 2026 National Fire Safety Week celebration in Abuja.
According to the minister, the proposed legislation has completed its defence at the Federal Executive Council level and is expected to be presented for consideration later this week.
He explained that the proposed law would broaden the agency’s responsibilities beyond firefighting to cover emergency medical assistance, search and rescue operations, hazardous materials management, disaster response and accident investigations.
Tunji-Ojo described the planned reform as a major development in the country’s emergency response system, noting that President Bola Tinubu’s administration was taking steps to replace the outdated legislation with a more comprehensive legal framework.
He said the existing law, which was enacted in 1963, had limited the agency’s ability to respond effectively to modern emergencies and adopt new operational strategies.
The minister stressed that the absence of adequate legal provisions had restricted the service from carrying out certain responsibilities, regardless of their importance to public safety.
He maintained that the government was working towards establishing a more versatile emergency response agency capable of intervening in road accidents, flooding, earthquakes and incidents involving dangerous or toxic substances.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Federal Fire and Rescue Service would also provide first aid and emergency medical assistance, alongside strengthening fire prevention through safety inspections, enforcement of regulations and public awareness campaigns.
Tunji-Ojo said his vision was to establish a service with specialised rescue capabilities, including medical emergencies and hazardous materials response, commonly referred to as HAZMAT.
He also advocated the inclusion of basic rescue procedures and emergency response training in school curricula, arguing that Nigerians should acquire essential lifesaving skills from an early age.
According to him, educating citizens on basic emergency response techniques would help them assist others during critical situations.
The minister further disclosed that the Federal Fire Service would be responsible for coordinating policies aimed at establishing consistent fire safety standards across the country, in collaboration with state and local governments.
On infrastructure development, Tunji-Ojo revealed that construction of a new fire service academy in Kwali, Abuja, was ongoing and had reached approximately 65 per cent completion.
He expressed optimism that the facility would be completed by December.
The academy, situated on about 23 hectares of land, is expected
