By Nkechi Eze
The Federal Government has unveiled plans to sanitise Nigeria’s fire safety sector with the introduction of a nationwide regulatory framework aimed at eliminating fake and substandard fire extinguishers while creating over 150,000 jobs for youths.
The initiative, known as the Nigeria Fire Extinguisher Control (NFEC), is being driven by the Ministry of Interior under the leadership of the Minister, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, in collaboration with the Federal Fire Service.
The reform is designed to address long-standing challenges in the fire safety ecosystem, including the proliferation of counterfeit and expired extinguishers, poor servicing standards, and the activities of unregulated operators, which have continued to endanger lives and property.
Officials say the NFEC initiative will introduce a structured system for the registration, verification, and monitoring of fire extinguishers from production to end use, ensuring that only certified and functional equipment is available in the market.
The Minister emphasised that public safety cannot be compromised, noting that Nigerians must be assured that safety equipment purchased for emergencies will perform effectively when needed.
Beyond safety concerns, the initiative is also positioned as an economic intervention, with plans to replace informal and illegal vendors with trained and certified operators across the country, thereby opening up employment opportunities for thousands of young Nigerians.
Under the framework, stakeholders say the reform will also curb revenue leakages and strengthen institutional capacity within fire services at both federal and state levels through improved coordination and standardisation.
The initiative is further expected to enhance collaboration among emergency response agencies, promote fire safety awareness, and expand access to training programmes for individuals and organisations.
Industry observers have described the move as a significant step toward reforming Nigeria’s fire safety architecture, noting that it combines regulatory enforcement with job creation and public protection.
With preparations underway for its rollout, the NFEC initiative is projected to reshape the country’s fire safety landscape by ensuring quality control, improving emergency preparedness, and restoring public confidence in safety equipment nationwide.
