The federal government is taking steps to replace Nigeria’s 63-year-old Fire Service Act with a modern legal framework. The aim is to strengthen emergency response and tackle emerging safety challenges.
According to Minister of Interior Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, the existing Fire Service Act of 1963 is outdated and no longer meets the country’s evolving emergency management needs.
The Tinubu administration has initiated legislative reforms to repeal the old law and introduce a new Federal Fire and Rescue Service Act. This proposed legislation would broaden the responsibilities of the Federal Fire Service to include a wider range of hazardous incidents and emergencies, not just conventional firefighting.
Tunji-Ojo emphasized that the reform is essential to provide the service with the necessary legal authority and institutional capacity to address modern challenges effectively. The proposed legislation has been defended and is set to be presented to the Senate for consideration and passage.
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The new Act is expected to establish a stronger legal foundation for emergency response, rescue operations, and public safety improvements. This reform is part of the federal government’s broader efforts to modernize institutions under the Ministry of Interior and enhance the country’s emergency management system.
Nigeria is actively updating its outdated laws. The Senate recently called for replacing the 100-year-old Quarantine Act of 1926 with a modern public health law aligned with the International Health Regulations of 2005. Concerns over the spread of the Bundibugyo Ebola virus and the inadequacies of the existing legal framework for quarantine and port health operations prompted this move.
Lawmakers have raised concerns about the outdated nature of Nigeria’s current legal framework for quarantine and port health operations. They also highlighted insufficient staffing and equipment at several entry points, which could compromise the country’s ability to detect and contain imported cases.
