The Federal Government has appealed to Nigerians to work more closely with the Federal Fire Service (FFS) and other emergency agencies to address the increasing rate of fire outbreaks across the country.
The Controller General of the FFS, Samuel Adeyemi, made the call in Abuja on Thursday at the close of the National Fire Safety Week, a week-long campaign themed “Building a Culture of Fire Safety in Nigeria: Overcoming the ‘Not My Portion’ Mentality.”
Adeyemi stressed the importance of developing a proactive safety culture, noting that a long-standing mindset of denial has weakened preventive efforts.
“Fire safety begins with each of us, and we must overcome the deeply rooted ‘Not My Portion’ mentality that has weakened our preventive culture for decades,” he said.
He added that the public’s growing interest in fire safety provides an opportunity for the Service to deepen its outreach. Represented by Deputy Controller General Aliyu Tambari, Adeyemi said the FFS has intensified sensitisation through campaigns in schools, markets, road shows, and fire drills.
A major highlight of the event was the appointment of iconic musician Innocent Idibia (2Face/2Baba) as Nigeria’s Fire Ambassador. The FFS said his influence would help drive awareness nationwide. Awards and certificates were also presented to individuals and institutions that have significantly supported fire safety initiatives.
Adeyemi reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to continuous modernization and professionalism, acknowledging the support of the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, and other partners.
“Safety is not an event; it is a continuous responsibility. Let us replace carelessness with caution, and denial with preparedness,” he urged.
Also speaking, the Director General of NIGCOMSAT, Nkechi Egerton-Idehen, highlighted fire safety as a shared responsibility and commended firefighters for their courage. Former CDCFIB Board Secretary, Dr. Alhassan Yakmut, stressed the need to expand fire safety campaigns to rural communities, noting that ongoing reforms are aimed at raising operational standards within the Service.
As part of the programme, cheques were presented to beneficiaries of the Group Life Insurance Scheme in honour of fallen and injured fire service personnel.
