Fire service

By Sabiu Abdullahi

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Fire Service (FFS) and Unilever Nigeria PLC have entered separate Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) aimed at deepening cooperation on security, trade facilitation, fire safety and consumer protection.

The agreements were signed on 27 August 2026 at the NCS Headquarters in Abuja. They are expected to improve coordination between government agencies and strengthen collaboration between Customs and the private sector in support of Nigeria’s economic development.

Speaking during the engagement with the FFS, Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, said the agreement represented a strategic move to reinforce cooperation between the two agencies.

According to him, the partnership would promote improved fire safety standards at Customs facilities, faster responses to emergencies, joint training and capacity development, as well as better information exchange on emergency preparedness.

“I am very confident that this MoU will translate to practical actions that save lives, protect government assets, and enhance our collective capacity to respond to emergencies,” Adeniyi said.

The Controller-General of the FFS, Olumode Adeyemi, described the agreement as the first strong MoU between the Fire Service and a sister agency. He assured that the FFS would deploy its resources and expertise to protect Customs personnel and property.

The Customs chief also signed a separate agreement with Unilever Nigeria PLC as part of efforts to strengthen cooperation with the private sector.

Adeniyi said the partnership would support efforts against counterfeit products and illicit trade. He noted that it would also improve intelligence sharing and assist Customs in identifying and verifying suspected counterfeit goods.

He explained that the agreement would establish a formal avenue for the exchange of timely information on trademarks, product identification features, packaging and product samples.

The CGC said interactions with businesses could also provide valuable information for policy and operational decisions within the Service.

“Some of the takeaways we get from these engagements with the private sector influence the policies and decisions that we take,” he stated.

Adeniyi praised Unilever for its continued investment, innovation and contribution to employment in Nigeria. He described the company as an important player in the nation’s trade and industrial sector.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of Unilever Nigeria PLC, Tobi Adeniyi, recalled the company’s long history in Nigeria, dating back to 1923.

He disclosed that over 70 per cent of Unilever’s raw materials were now sourced locally and that the company supports approximately 15,000 direct and indirect jobs.

Tobi also commended the NCS for reforms within the Service, with particular emphasis on digitalisation, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme and other measures designed to facilitate legitimate trade.

He said earlier interactions between Unilever and Customs had yielded tangible outcomes. One example, he noted, was the application of lessons from training attended by more than 70 Customs officers.

Tobi reaffirmed the company’s readiness to work with the NCS to tackle counterfeiting and illicit trade. He also expressed the company’s willingness to expand the partnership through further engagements across Nigeria.

By Sabiu Abdullahi

Five people lost their lives in 30 fire outbreaks recorded across Kano State in June, according to the Kano State Fire Service.

The agency said the incidents also destroyed property valued at more than N120.4 million during the month. It added that its emergency response efforts prevented the loss of property estimated at N481.8 million.

The figures appeared in the Fire Service’s operational report for June, which the agency’s Public Relations Officer, Saminu Abdullahi, released on Monday.

Apart from responding to fire outbreaks, the report stated that the service handled seven rescue operations during the period. It also recorded one false alarm and successfully rescued three people from separate emergency situations.

The Director of the Kano State Fire Service, Alhaji Sani Anas, urged residents to be more careful when handling fire in order to reduce preventable incidents.

He said, “We urge members of the public to exercise caution when using fire and ensure that all sources of fire are completely extinguished after use to prevent avoidable fire outbreaks.”

Anas also called on parents and guardians to keep a close watch on their children to prevent drowning incidents.

He added, “Parents and guardians should closely supervise their children and prevent them from playing near puddles, ponds, rivers, or uncovered wells in order to reduce incidents of drowning, particularly among children and young people.”

The fire service director also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property through timely emergency response, public safety campaigns, and cooperation with communities.

By Abdullahi Mukhtar Algasgaini

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s newly appointed Controller General (CG) of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, was officially decorated with his new rank today in Abuja.

The ceremony was performed by the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, at the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire, and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB) Hall.

The Minister praised the outgoing CG, Engr. Jaji O. Abdulganiyu, for his outstanding service, while the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, Dr. Magdalene N. Ajani, urged the new CG to uphold national interest and work within the law.

In his response, CG Adeyemi thanked President Tinubu and other officials for their trust, promising to reposition the agency for greater efficiency.

The event was attended by top government officials, lawmakers, past FFS leaders, and heads of sister security agencies.

A reception followed at the FFS headquarters, marking the occasion with celebration and unity.

The CDCFIB expressed hope that the new CG would justify the confidence reposed in him by the President and Nigerians.

By Uzair Adam

Two women have died after reportedly drowning in a pond in Gezawa Local Government Area of Kano State.

The Kano State Fire Service confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Wednesday by its Public Relations Officer, Alhaji Saminu Abdullahi.

Abdullahi explained that the service received a distress call around 11:15 a.m. on Tuesday from a local vigilance group, reporting that two women had drowned.

According to the statement, relatives of the deceased told the vigilance group that the victims were workers at a hibiscus (Zobo) processing company and had gone to the pond after closing from work.

“Our rescue team was immediately dispatched to the scene, and we successfully recovered the corpses from the pond,” the statement said.

The remains of the victims were later handed over to Musa Garba, a police constable at the Gezawa Police Division.

The Fire Service urged residents to avoid open water bodies to prevent similar tragedies.

By Uzair Adam Imam

Friday night turned tragic as a tanker carrying 33,000 liters of petrol erupted in flames, claiming two lives.

The devastating incident unfolded at the Ijesha end of the Cele Link Bridge in Surulere, Lagos.

According to eyewitness Mr. Jide Alabi, the catastrophe occurred around 11:12 p.m. when the tanker driver lost control while maneuvering the roundabout to ascend the bridge.

The spilled fuel ignited swiftly, creating a massive fireball that engulfed the vicinity.

Ojueko Sharon, a staff member of the Lagos Ministry of Transport, confirmed the tanker’s overturning.

Reports show that prompt responses from the Isolo and Bolade Fire Stations of the Lagos State Rescue and Service contained the situation.

Mrs. Margaret Adeseye, Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, stated that their timely intervention doused the flames.

Tragically, two individuals, unidentifiable due to severe burns, lost their lives. Their bodies were handed over to the Nigeria Police Force for necessary procedures.

Efforts are ongoing to clear the wreckage, ensuring smooth traffic flow and facilitating thorough investigations into the incident.

By Sabiu Abdullahi 

The federal government has stepped in to offer support by donating two cutting-edge digital firefighting trucks to the Kano State government.

The unveiling ceremony, graced by Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, was marked by expressions of gratitude towards the Federal Government for its crucial assistance. 

Governor Yusuf, acknowledging the donation, expressed profound appreciation for the gesture, highlighting the substantial impact these firefighting trucks would have on bolstering safety and security within the state.

He assured the public that the resources would be utilised judiciously for the benefit of all citizens.