The Federal Fire Service in Nasarawa State saved property valued at N1.3 billion from fire incidents across the state’s 13 local government areas between January and October 2026, the state controller has said.
Eno Nwachukwu, the Nasarawa State Controller of the Federal Fire Service, disclosed the figures on Monday during the flag-off of the 2026 National Fire Week Awareness Campaign at the Federal Secretariat in Lafia, the state capital.
According to the controller, property worth N2.1 billion was exposed to fire hazards during the period, while an estimated N800 million worth of property was lost to fire incidents. The service also received about 97 emergency calls between January and October.
Service Pledges Faster Emergency Response
Speaking at the event, Nwachukwu reaffirmed the service’s commitment to maintaining rapid response capabilities. She urged residents, business owners and market associations to observe fire safety precautions and to report emergencies promptly in order to minimise casualties and property damage.
“Fire safety is not the responsibility of the Federal Fire Service alone; it is a collective responsibility that requires the active participation of government, private organisations, institutions, families, community leaders, and every individual,” she said.
Shift From Reaction to Prevention
Addressing the theme of this year’s campaign, “Building a Fire Resilient Nigeria: One Community at a Time,” the controller stressed the need to move away from reactive emergency responses toward proactive, community-driven prevention strategies.
She described a fire-resilient nation as one in which families, schools, businesses and industrial centres possess the awareness, capacity and infrastructure to prevent disasters, respond effectively and recover swiftly when emergencies occur.
Nwachukwu warned that fire disasters do not discriminate between government establishments, private residences, commercial markets and places of worship. She said the service would intensify public education on common household and commercial fire hazards, and urged residents to embrace safety standards in their daily activities to protect lives, investments and property. National security and economic stability, she noted, begin at the community level.
Call for Stronger Inter-Agency Collaboration
Also speaking, the Nasarawa State Head of Civil Service, Abigail Waya, called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Fire Service and the state fire service. Waya, who was represented by a Permanent Secretary in her office, Belinda Oyigbenu Atinuke, said cooperation in intelligence sharing, knowledge exchange and emergency response would help prevent disasters and improve rescue operations.
“And for the states, not long ago, a number of officers were employed to do the same thing that you are doing; with your own collaboration, you will help us avert disaster,” she said.
Waya also advised residents to prioritise safety by switching off electrical power sources and appliances when not in use, and by reporting fire incidents promptly before they escalate.
Experts Highlight Common Causes of Fire Outbreaks
In his keynote address, Dr Abubakar Alhassan of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management at the Federal University of Lafia, outlined practical measures for preventing and managing fire disasters.
He identified illegal storage of petroleum products, cigarette smoking, bush burning, gas-related incidents, accidents and vehicular incidents as some of the causes of fire outbreaks. He cautioned residents against engaging unqualified electricians for house wiring and urged them to replace damaged cables and store fuel safely.
“So it is the federal fire service that is the hub of all the stakeholders because they are in charge of equipping, training, and also coordinating the community fire safety committees,” he said. “We also need the markets and trade associations, the schools and universities, our faith and traditional leaders, also the State Fire Services, the media, and the non-governmental organisations for collaborations.”
Stakeholders Share Experiences, Honoured With Awards
The event featured plenary sessions in which participants shared experiences of fire disasters, success stories and recommendations for improving fire prevention and response.
Participants included representatives of security agencies, educational institutions, the hospitality sector, market associations, traditional and religious institutions, and the media. The occasion also featured the presentation of awards to individuals and groups recognised for their contributions to fire disaster management and their support for the Federal Fire Service in the state.
