Fire service saved N1.3bn property in Nasarawa – Controller

Officials of the Federal Fire Service, other stakeholders and dignitaries during the event in Lafia, the Nasarawa State capital.

The Federal Fire Service says it saved properties worth N1.3bn from fire incidents across the 13 local government areas of Nasarawa State between January and October 2026.

The Nasarawa State Controller of the Federal Fire Service, Eno Nwachukwu, disclosed this on Monday during the flag-off of the 2026 National Fire Week Awareness Campaign at the Federal Secretariat in Lafia, the state capital.

She said properties worth N2.1bn were exposed to fire hazards during the period, while an estimated N800m worth of property was lost in fire incidents.

According to her, the service received about 97 emergency calls between January and October.

Speaking at the event, Nwachukwu reaffirmed the service’s commitment to maintaining rapid response capabilities, urging residents, business owners and market associations to observe fire safety precautions and report emergencies promptly to minimise casualties and property damage.

She said, “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.”

Speaking on the theme, “Building a Fire Resilient Nigeria: One Community at a time”, the controller highlighted the need to shift from reactive emergency responses to proactive, community-driven prevention strategies.

She described a fire-resilient nation as one where families, schools, businesses and industrial centres have the awareness, capacity and infrastructure to prevent disasters, respond effectively and recover swiftly when emergencies occur.

Nwachukwu warned that fire disasters did 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.

The controller also urged residents to embrace safety standards in their daily activities to protect lives, investments and property, stressing that national security and economic stability began at the community level.

Also speaking, the Nasarawa State Head of Civil Service, Abigail Waya, represented by a Permanent Secretary in her office, Belinda Oyigbenu Atinuke, called for stronger collaboration between the Federal Fire Service and the state fire service.

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She 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 urged residents to prioritise safety by switching off electrical power sources and appliances when not in use and reporting fire incidents promptly before they escalated.

In his keynote address, Dr Abubakar Alhassan of the Department of Geography and Environmental Management, Federal University of Lafia, outlined practical measures for preventing and managing fire disasters.

He identified the 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.

​”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”, he added.

The event featured plenary sessions where 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 event also featured the presentation of awards to individuals and groups recognised for their contributions to fire disaster management and support for the Federal Fire Service in the state.