By Palma Ileye
Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has called for urgent reform of the Federal Fire Service, FFS, including a new legal framework to empower it and open the sector to private participation.
Speaking at the Ministry of Interior Mid-Tenure/2025 Sectoral Performance Retreat held at Zuma Rock Resorts in Suleja, Niger State, Tunji-Ojo described the current Fire Service Act of 1963 as “obsolete and inadequate,” stressing that it neither reflects today’s realities nor gives the FFS prosecutorial or regulatory powers.
“By law today, the fire service cannot prosecute, cannot enumerate, and cannot even regulate. When a government agency lacks prosecution, regulation and enforcement powers, it becomes a toothless dog,” he said.
The Minister argued that Nigeria’s growing population and booming economy require modern fire and rescue services, which cannot be funded by government alone. “Government cannot keep buying fire trucks abroad. Just as we license private guard companies, we must begin to license private firefighting and rescue companies,” he declared.
He added that private sector involvement in firefighting is standard practice in advanced economies such as Japan, China and the United States, noting that Nigeria must adopt similar models to protect lives, businesses and investments.
The Interior Minister stressed that effective emergency response is critical for investor confidence.
He said, “No serious investor will put money in a country where there is no emergency response system. Most fire incidents could have been avoided with immediate response.”
He revealed that his Ministry was already in discussions with the National Assembly on amending the Fire Service Act to bring the law in line with global best practices and empower the FFS with regulatory authority.
Beyond fire service reform, the Minister also criticized the frequent redeployment of officers across unrelated units in paramilitary agencies, describing it as wasteful and counterproductive.
“If you spend one year in border management and are suddenly moved to finance or HR, capacity building suffers. Officers should be allowed to build careers along their areas of expertise. National security requires specialization, not generalization,” he explained.
Tunji-Ojo called for structured career progression paths within the Interior Ministry’s agencies, particularly for officers in border management, migration and HR, to ensure institutional knowledge and continuity.
Tunji-Ojo concluded with a reminder that emergency services are central to national security and economic stability.
“In the US and UK, emergency medical services are under the fire service. That is what we must aim for. If we fail in emergency response, we fail the economy,” he warned.
The Minister urged lawmakers, stakeholders and the private sector to join forces with government in transforming the nation’s fire and rescue framework, describing it as a prerequisite for safety, investment and sustainable growth.
Tunji-Ojo while speaking on public service, also issued a resounding call for a shift in the mindset of public servants, urging them to adopt a private-sector approach to governance rooted in accountability, efficiency, and legacy-building.
With the theme, “From Plans to Results: Strengthening Institutional Performance” the Minister emphasized that public office should not be treated as a reward, but rather as a profound national trust.
“There are only about 60 members of the Federal Executive Council in a country of over 230 million. That is not a title; it is a responsibility,” he declared.
Tunji-Ojo likened Public Service to running a business, stating that the same sense of ownership, foresight, and dedication must drive government operations.
“Nobody runs their business to the ground. You work extra hours, plan for continuity, and build legacies. That is the same energy we must bring into governance. Nigeria is our business,” he said.
In line with this philosophy, the Minister unveiled major reforms implemented within the Ministry of Interior, highlighting the Centralized Interior Management and Administration System, CIMAS, as a key milestone.
CIMAS, he explained, integrates the operations of the Ministry and its agencies into a single platform, significantly improving service delivery. “What used to take months — such as processing permits and quotas — now takes just 72 hours. That’s the power of efficient systems,” he noted.
Dr. Tunji-Ojo also addressed Officers in uniform, describing their role as both symbolic and deeply consequential saying , “The number of Nigerians in uniform is small, but the weight of their duty is massive. Wearing the nation’s colours is a badge of pride and an eternal responsibility,” he said, underscoring that public service is one of the greatest honours any citizen can receive.”
He challenged attendees to view the retreat not only as a review of past performance but as a recommitment to future excellence.
“If we cannot hand over a better Nigeria to the next generation, then what are we doing? We are not just fixing systems; we are securing the future,” he said. “The era of complacency is over. Performance is now the standard.”
Earlier, Hajiya Hadiza Bala Usman, Special Adviser to the President on Policy Coordination and Head of the Central Results Delivery Coordination Unit, CRDCU, delivered a keynote address that strongly echoed the Minister’s message.
She commended the Ministry of Interior for exemplifying the ideals of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, praising its commitment to measurable impact and improved service delivery.
“The Ministry of Interior has stood out as a model of institutional performance. Initiatives such as faster passport and visa processing, data harmonization, and the introduction of a multipurpose national ID card are clear indicators of progress,” she said.
Stressing the importance of citizen impact as the ultimate metric of success, Usman stated, “Testimonials like ‘passports were issued in two days’ must become the norm, not the exception.”
She highlighted the need for continuous service optimization, particularly in areas like identity management and NIN verification, which directly affect millions of Nigerians.
Drawing from both public sentiment and personal observations, she urged public servants to remain responsive and proactive.
“This Ministry has a direct interface with citizens. People feel your impact immediately — and they remember inefficiencies. That’s why you must be optimal at all times,” she said.
On the security front, she also called for legislative reforms to modernize the country’s security framework.
She advocated for an urgent amendment to the Private Guard Companies Act, arguing that it would allow private firms to take on non-core security roles — such as VIP protection — thereby freeing up law enforcement agencies for more critical national security responsibilities.
“We must relieve our police forces and ensure they focus on their primary duty — safeguarding national security,” she said.
