FG to Repeal 1963 Fire Service Act, Establish Rescue Agency

Nigeria's Federal Government intends to abolish the 1963 Fire Service Act and introduce legislation establishing a Federal Fire and Rescue Service with broadened operational capacity. Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced this plan during the 2026 National Fire Safety Week, which took place in Abuja on Monday.

Under the new legal framework, the agency's scope expands substantially beyond conventional firefighting. Emergency medical response, search and rescue operations, hazardous materials containment, and disaster management fall within the renamed service's mandate.

The minister reported that the bill had completed its defence procedures at Federal Executive Council level, with formal consideration anticipated within the following week. More than sixty years have elapsed since the existing statute underwent meaningful revision.

According to Tunji-Ojo, current legislation no longer serves the nation's contemporary emergency management needs. These structural reforms reflect a comprehensive reimagining of how federal authorities would address crisis response situations that transcend traditional fire-related incidents.

Approval by the Federal Executive Council, followed by parliamentary processes, will establish the timeline for legislative implementation. The announcement did not include details regarding staffing plans, budgetary allocations, or implementation schedules for the reorganised service framework.

This initiative underscores policymakers' commitment to strengthening national emergency infrastructure systems.