Give fire trucks right-of-way, Fire service boss urges motorists

Adeyemi Olumode, the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, has made a strong appeal to Nigerian motorists to prioritize giving way to fire trucks and ambulances during emergencies, emphasizing that "every second counts." Speaking at a National Stakeholders’ Summit on Fire Safety in Abuja, Olumode highlighted that delays caused by drivers failing to yield can significantly exacerbate fire incidents, potentially leading to preventable loss of lives and property.

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Anytime, anywhere we have sirens or fire trucks, ambulances, please let us give right-of-way. Because every second, every minute counts. Fire does not wait for anybody.

Olumode stated, "Anytime, anywhere we have sirens or fire trucks, ambulances, please let us give right-of-way. Because every second, every minute counts. Fire does not wait for anybody." He underscored that fires begin small, and prompt intervention is crucial for containment and minimizing damage. The summit also served as a platform to discuss the evolving landscape of fire risks in Nigeria, including gas explosions, building collapses, flooding, and terrorist attacks, which necessitate a more resilient and adaptive approach to fire safety.

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And we know that every fire starts very small. The ability to nip it in the bud will be able to save a lot of things. This is why we call this stakeholder summit.

Beyond granting passage, Olumode urged the public to actively support emergency response efforts. This includes keeping access routes clear, refraining from gathering unnecessarily around fire incidents, and providing accurate information to firefighters. "During an emergency, the public has a role to play. Giving fire trucks a clear path, keeping unnecessary crowd away, providing useful information to responders and sharing verified information can make a real difference to the speed and effectiveness of our response," he explained.

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During an emergency, the public has a role to play. Giving fire trucks a clear path, keeping unnecessary crowd away, providing useful information to responders and sharing verified information can make a real difference to the speed and effectiveness of our response.

Olumode also addressed the critical issue of public trust in the Fire Service. He acknowledged that negative stereotypes, such as a lack of water, fuel, or timely arrival, have historically impacted public perception. Building confidence, he stated, requires professionalism, transparency, effective communication, and a genuine commitment to service. The Federal Fire Service is actively reviewing its response protocols after each incident to learn and improve preparedness, aiming to build a more resilient fire safety system across the nation.

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Resilience is not all about responding to fire occurrence. It is about prevention, early detection, professional response, and learning from every experience.