Nigeria's Fire Service to Transform into Rescue Agency

The Federal Government is set to repeal the 1963 Fire Service Act and replace it with new legislation to transform the Federal Fire Service into the Federal Fire and Rescue Service. Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo announced this on Monday during the 2026 National Fire Safety Week in Abuja.

The proposed legislation has completed its defense at the Federal Executive Council level and will be presented for consideration this week. Tunji-Ojo stated that the new law would broaden the agency's responsibilities to include emergency medical services, search and rescue operations, hazardous materials response, disaster management, and accident investigation.

He emphasized that the existing law was outdated and hindered the agency's ability to respond effectively to modern emergencies. The minister expressed a vision for a fire service that acts as a first responder in various emergencies and called for the inclusion of emergency response education in school curricula.