National Fire Academy For Inauguration In May – Minister

Minister of Interior, Dr.  Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has announced that construction of the National Fire Academy has reached 70 per cent completion, expressing confidence that the facility would be delivered by May this year.

The minister  disclosed this after conducting an extensive inspection of the project site. He described the academy as a transformative investment designed to reposition Nigeria’s fire and emergency response system for greater efficiency and global relevance.

LEADERSHIP Weekend reports that while consultants  certified the project at 70 per cent completion, the minister noted that based on visible structural development, he estimated practical progress at between 60 and 65 per cent ,  a stage he said reflects substantial advancement toward delivery.

The minister who was accompanied by the permanent secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Magdalene Ajani, and the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Mr. Olumode Samuel Adeyemi,  revealed that the scope of the project has been strategically expanded.

He said, through collaboration with the Kwali Area Council and local traditional institutions, an additional 13 hectares of land have been secured, bringing the academy’s total footprint to 23 hectares. The expansion, he explained, is intended to transform the facility into a premier national hub for capacity building and specialised training.

Tunji-Ojo explained that beyond its original mandate, the academy’s vision has been broadened to incorporate professional and career development programmes for multiple paramilitary services.

According to the minister, it will function as a centre of excellence, offering advanced technical instruction, modern firefighting techniques, and specialised disaster management training for fire and emergency personnel.

He emphasised that the academy is being built to meet international standards, providing in-country rescue and emergency management training that previously required foreign exposure,  a move expected to reduce capital flight and strengthen domestic expertise.

He stressed that modern fire services must evolve beyond conventional firefighting to embrace comprehensive emergency response, rescue coordination, and disaster management capabilities suited to increasingly complex risk environments.

The minister further noted that the facility will support youth empowerment initiatives and provide high-level training opportunities for both public and private sector participants. It is also designed to enhance operational capacity and improve inter-agency collaboration in responding to fires, industrial accidents, and other large-scale emergencies nationwide.

Reaffirming the government’s commitment to the May completion timeline, Tunji-Ojo described the academy as a strategic investment in public safety, professional excellence, and national resilience.

When completed, the National Fire Academy is expected to significantly strengthen the competence, preparedness, and global competitiveness of Nigeria’s fire service personnel.

In his remarks, the controller-general of the Federal Fire Service, Mr. Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, highlighted the facility’s unique infrastructure, including a purpose-built “firehouse” for advanced search-and-rescue simulations, which he described as the first of its kind in West Africa.

He added that the academy’s accommodation facilities can house up to 3,000 participants simultaneously, creating an enabling environment for the continuous development of the Service’s 11,000-strong workforce.