Niger records 430 fire disasters in 2025 – Controller
Adelowo Oladipo, Minna
The Federal Fire Service (FFS), Niger State Command, has recorded a total of 430 fire disasters across the state in 2025, the Controller of the command, Assistant Controller Alikali Mohammad, has disclosed.
Mohammad made the disclosure during a media parley with journalists over the weekend in Minna, noting that officers and men of the command were promptly deployed to all reported locations to contain the outbreaks and prevent further damage.
According to him, beyond extinguishing the fires, the command also saved lives and properties worth several billions of naira through timely interventions.
“I appreciate the synergy that has been established between my command and the Niger State Fire Service,” Mohammad said.
“We have been collaborating effectively in the discharge of our statutory functions within the state capital to save lives and property of the citizenry.”
The Controller explained that as part of its preventive strategy, the command organises a National Fire Safety Week at the end of the last quarter of every year, during which members of the public are sensitised on fire safety measures.
He said the exercise includes visits to worship centres, schools, marketplaces and government organisations to educate people on safety precautions, how to prevent fire outbreaks and the appropriate actions to take in the event of an emergency.
Mohammad, however, identified poor public awareness of emergency contact lines as a major challenge confronting the command. “Many people do not have our emergency lines, and that is critical because timely information is key to effective response,” he said.
He also lamented what he described as the lukewarm attitude of some members of the public toward fire safety rules and regulations, attributing several of the recorded incidents to negligence.
The Controller advised residents to be more safety-conscious and to promptly provide useful information to the command, stressing that public cooperation would enhance its capacity to respond optimally to emergencies.
Meanwhile, the Federal Government has signed a strategic agreement with the Niger State Government to develop integrated farming and housing estates. The initiative is aimed at unlocking rural capital, expanding the supply of affordable housing and strengthening Nigeria’s agricultural value chains.