The Federal Fire Service has launched a nationwide mandatory Fire Warden Training and Certification Programme for organisations that receive an average of 50 or more persons daily.
The service announced the programme on Friday in a statement jointly signed by the Commandant of the National Fire Academy, ACF Umetali Peter, and the Managing Director/Principal Consultant of Pilgrims Integrated Management Consult Ltd., Ukpola Okereke Chinedu.
The statement explained that in a major step towards strengthening fire safety and emergency preparedness across Nigeria, the Federal Fire Service, in collaboration with Pilgrims Integrated Management Consult Ltd., had launched the initiative aimed at transforming fire safety culture across the country by equipping organisations with trained in-house fire wardens as first responders to fire emergencies.
The service said fire outbreaks remain one of the leading causes of preventable loss of lives and property in Nigeria. It added that investigations had shown that the absence of trained emergency responders within facilities often results in delayed response, poor evacuation procedures, avoidable injuries, and extensive property damage.
According to the statement, organisations covered by the programme are required to nominate one fire warden for every 50 staff members, occupants, students, worshippers, customers or average daily users of their facilities, and that all nominated personnel must undergo the prescribed training and obtain certification from the Federal Fire Service.
The statement said registration had commenced, while the first phase of training would begin on August 31, 2026, at designated training centres, starting with Lagos.
It warned that facilities that fail to comply may be subject to sanctions as provided under the Federal Fire Service Act, including legal penalties and the possible sealing of facilities found to be unsafe for public use.
The statement added that fire safety is a shared responsibility, noting that every workplace, institution, business premises, and public facility requires trained in-house emergency responders who can provide immediate intervention during the critical first few minutes of a fire incident, stressing that prompt response during this period often determines whether a minor incident is successfully contained or develops into a major disaster.
