‘It’s obsolete’ — FG moves to repeal Fire Service Act

Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, minister of interior, says the federal government is set to repeal the 1963 Fire Service Act.

Tunji-Ojo spoke in Abuja on Tuesday at the groundbreaking ceremony for the remodelling and upgrading of the National Fire Academy (NFA).

The minister said the Fire Service Act would be repealed to allow the enactment of another one that takes care of the current realities.

“It is the constitutional duty of the government to protect lives and property. So, what you have been set out to do by your establishment statutes is a function of the constitution,” Tunji-Ojo said.

“We will be working hard to see to the repeal and enactment of a Fire and Rescue Service Act. This present law of 1963 is obsolete.”

Tunji-Ojo said the function of the fire service has gone beyond firefighting and now includes rescue operations and security duties.

“The scope of fire service all over the world in 2024 is different from what it was in 1963, and we cannot continue to be held down to the apron of the past when we have an opportunity to create a future that we will all be proud of,” the minister added.

“For us, your responsibility is not just to combat and prevent fire. Your responsibilities go beyond that. You ought to be the first responders in case of any emergency.

“You can only give what you have, and that is why the government is going all the way to equip you with the required knowledge not just for the Nigerian market but also to be an exporter of rescue knowledge to the rest of Africa.”

Speaking about the fire academy project, the minister said the project would be completed in a year.

Tunji-Ojo added that, as part of efforts to bring the private sector into the fire service and rescue industry, the federal government would also establish a fire academy in each of the six geo-political zones of the country.

“It is only when we do that that over 200 million Nigerians can have the kind of rescue assurance that they need,” he said.

Speaking earlier, Jaji Abdulganiyu, the controller general of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), commended the federal government for the decision to remodel the academy.

While highlighting the landmark achievements of the academy, the controller general said trainees from all other government outfits including the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Navy and other paramilitary agencies have been coming for training.

“We have received requests for collaboration and training both within and outside Nigeria notably was the request from the Gambian Authorities expressing the need to have Nigeria’s assistance in building the capacity of the personnel of the country’s security agencies in firefighting, fire protection and rescue,” he added.