The Federal Government has announced plans to repeal the Fire Service Act of 1963 and introduce new legislation that will transform the Federal Fire Service into the Federal Fire and Rescue Service, with expanded powers covering emergency medical services, search and rescue operations, disaster management and hazardous materials response.
The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, disclosed this on Monday, November 2, 2026, during the National Fire Safety Week celebration in Abuja, explaining that the proposed legislation was designed to modernise the agency’s operations and address the limitations of its existing legal framework.
Tunji-Ojo said the proposed law had completed the necessary defence process ahead of consideration by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) and was expected to be presented at the council’s meeting on Thursday.
He maintained that the 63-year-old legislation had become obsolete and could no longer adequately support the responsibilities expected of a modern emergency response organisation.
According to the minister, the reform would reposition the Federal Fire Service from an agency primarily responsible for firefighting into a comprehensive emergency response institution capable of responding to disasters and other threats to lives and property.
“For the first time in 63 years, this President has taken the bull by the horns. As I speak to you, I think we have finished defending it. It should be laid this week, Thursday, at the level of the Federal Executive Council.
“So with this new law, we are repealing what used to be the Federal Fire Service Act. What the government of President Bola Tinubu is bringing on board is the Federal Fire and Rescue Service,” Tunji-Ojo stated.
The minister explained that the existing Fire Service Act had restricted the agency’s capacity to innovate, expand its responsibilities and respond effectively to emerging emergencies.
He stressed that government institutions must operate within the powers granted to them by law, warning that even well-intentioned actions could become unlawful where the necessary statutory authority was absent.
“You cannot have a Fire Service Act of 1963 and think it will be near 2026 compliant. It doesn’t make sense. And if the law does not give you the power to do certain things, it makes the job of this man in uniform impossible to do.
“The number one issue we had was the law. There is no right way of doing what is legally wrong. If the law does not give you the power to do something, no matter how good that action is, once you do it, it becomes illegal,” he said.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the proposed legislation would provide a broader legal foundation for the agency to operate as a first responder during emergencies such as road accidents, floods, earthquakes, building collapses and incidents involving dangerous chemicals or toxic substances.
Under the proposed arrangement, the Federal Fire and Rescue Service would be empowered to provide first aid, emergency medical assistance, specialised search and rescue services, hazardous materials response and other emergency interventions.
The agency would also assume broader responsibilities in disaster management and accident investigation, while strengthening fire prevention through safety inspections, enforcement of regulations and public education.
The minister said his vision was to establish an emergency response institution capable of providing immediate assistance to victims before specialised medical or other emergency services arrived.
“I want to have my dream of a fire service in Nigeria that will be able to provide that first aid, that will be able to provide that rescue service, even medical rescue services.
“I want to see a Federal Fire Service that specialises in rescue operations. I want to see a Federal Service that deals with hazardous materials, what we call HAZMAT response, when there is a ceiling, when there is a helicopter, toxic gas, etc. It is the fire service that is responsible,” he stated.
He explained that the proposed changes would align the responsibilities of the Nigerian fire service more closely with modern emergency response practices, where fire and rescue agencies are often among the first institutions deployed to accident scenes and disaster locations.
Tunji-Ojo also advocated the introduction of emergency response education and basic rescue techniques into school curricula across Nigeria.
According to him, Nigerians should be equipped with essential lifesaving skills, including cardiopulmonary resuscitation and other emergency interventions, to improve the chances of survival for victims of accidents and medical emergencies.
He expressed concern that many Nigerians lacked basic knowledge of resuscitation procedures and emergency response techniques.
“What percentage of Nigerians can even do a single resuscitation process? So we must make sure that rescue becomes our way of life, because you never can tell who that next person is you will be in a position to help.
“It might be your mother, it might be your son, it might be your daughter, it might even be somebody who is very important to you,” the minister said.
He maintained that introducing lifesaving education into schools would help develop a culture of emergency preparedness and encourage greater public participation in protecting lives.
Beyond emergency response, Tunji-Ojo disclosed that the restructured Federal Fire Service would play a coordinating role in developing and implementing uniform fire safety standards across the country.
He said the agency would work with state and local authorities to strengthen fire prevention policies, improve compliance with safety requirements and promote coordinated responses to emergencies.
The minister also announced progress in the Federal Government’s efforts to establish a modern fire service training academy in Kwali, Abuja.
According to him, construction of the facility had reached approximately 65 per cent completion, with the government targeting December 2026 for its completion.
He disclosed that the academy would occupy about 23 hectares and provide facilities for the professional training of firefighters and other emergency response personnel.
The proposed facilities include classrooms, a library, a health centre and residential accommodation capable of housing more than 3,000 trainees.
Tunji-Ojo explained that the academy was intended to strengthen the technical and operational capacity of firefighters by providing specialised training in modern firefighting methods, rescue operations and emergency management.
The minister further disclosed that the Federal Government had expanded the leadership structure of the Federal Fire Service from one Deputy Controller-General to three.
He added that the number of commands had increased from six to 18 as part of efforts to improve the agency’s administrative capacity, operational coordination and nationwide coverage.
According to him, the reforms reflected the government’s determination to strengthen the institution and ensure that it could respond more effectively to emergencies across the federation.
Earlier, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Adeyemi, said the 2026 National Fire Safety Week was organised to promote public awareness of fire hazards and encourage individuals, communities and institutions to take greater responsibility for fire prevention.
He explained that the theme of this year’s celebration, “Building a Fire-Resilient Nigeria: Don’t Go Missing at a Time,” underscored the importance of collective action in reducing fire incidents and strengthening emergency preparedness.
Adeyemi said the service would conduct public awareness campaigns simultaneously across the 36 states of the federation and the Federal Capital Territory.
The activities would cover motor parks, schools, markets, plazas and other public places where large numbers of people gather and where inadequate safety precautions could increase the risk of fire incidents.
He added that the programme would feature roadshows and the distribution of fire safety educational materials translated into indigenous Nigerian languages to improve public understanding of preventive measures.
The Controller-General also disclosed that the service had recently intensified training programmes to improve the competence and operational readiness of its personnel.
According to him, 713 officers had undergone training during the previous week, while another 750 personnel were receiving additional training.
He explained that the programmes were intended to strengthen the capacity of firefighters to respond to emergencies professionally and effectively.
Adeyemi maintained that effective fire prevention and emergency response could not be achieved by government institutions alone, stressing the need for cooperation among public agencies, private organisations, communities and individuals.
He urged Nigerians to take fire safety seriously, comply with established safety regulations and support initiatives aimed at reducing preventable fire incidents.
The proposed repeal of the 1963 Fire Service Act represents a renewed effort by the Federal Government to modernise the legal framework governing firefighting and emergency response in Nigeria.
Tunji-Ojo had previously called for the repeal of the legislation, arguing that the responsibilities of the fire service had expanded considerably beyond those contemplated when the law was enacted.
The latest announcement indicates that the administration is seeking to advance the reform through the Federal Executive Council as part of a broader restructuring of the agency.
However, the proposed transformation into the Federal Fire and Rescue Service remains subject to the necessary legislative and approval processes.
If enacted, the new law would provide the statutory framework for expanding the agency’s responsibilities beyond fire suppression to include specialised rescue operations, emergency medical assistance, disaster response and enhanced enforcement of fire safety standards nationwide.
Post Title: “There Is No Right Way Of Doing What Is Legally Wrong” — FG Moves To Repeal 1963 Fire Service Act, Rename Agency, Expand Rescue Powers By Naijaonpoint.