The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Fire Service says it saved property valued at ₦14.46 billion and rescued 69 lives between January and September 2025.
The agency disclosed this on Tuesday during the celebration of its 23rd anniversary held at its Conference Hall in Abuja.
According to the Service, a total of 338 fire calls and nine rescue calls were recorded within the period, while property valued at ₦6.07 billion and 18 lives were lost to various fire incidents.
A breakdown of the data shows that the highest number of fire incidents occurred in January (59) and February (64), with property worth ₦1.59 billion, ₦2.16 billion, and ₦1.89 billion saved in January, February, and March respectively. The Service also recorded the most lives saved in March (30) and June (22), while properties worth ₦1.06 billion were lost in June alone.
In 2023, the FCT Fire Service responded to over 400 fire incidents across the territory, including the major inferno at the Kugbo Furniture Market, which destroyed more than 100 shops. The Service had estimated property losses exceeding ₦3 billion at the time, underscoring the city’s vulnerability to dry-season fires and the need for more fire stations in satellite towns — a challenge that, according to officials, still persists.
In 2024, the Service attended to 271 fire incidents, saving property worth ₦8.23 billion, while losses were estimated at ₦1.96 billion. Eleven lives were also saved during that period.
Speaking at the anniversary, the Comptroller of the FCT Fire Service, Adebayo Amiola, identified the overuse and ageing of firefighting trucks and manpower shortages as the agency’s major challenges.
“As we celebrate, we must speak frankly about the challenges confronting us. One of our major concerns is the overuse and ageing of our firefighting trucks,” Amiola said. “Many of our trucks have been in service far beyond their optimal lifespan; the cost of keeping them functional through constant maintenance continues to rise, and this is no longer economical.”
He added: “Equally pressing is the issue of manpower shortage. The Federal Capital Territory has expanded rapidly in recent years, with many new districts emerging. However, our personnel strength and resources have not grown in proportion to this expansion.”
The fire chief also called for the establishment of additional fire stations across key districts to improve emergency response within the capital.
“Every district should ideally have a functional fire station for quick response to emergencies. Unfortunately, several areas still lack such a presence,” he said. “We therefore appeal that more attention be given to developing fire stations in key districts such as Wuse, Guzape, Mpape, Jikwoyi, Orozo, Karshi, Karsana, Idu, Karimo, and Lugbe, among others. Each of these locations is critical to the safety network of our ever-growing capital city.”
Amiola expressed appreciation to the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, for his ongoing infrastructure development efforts, while appealing for increased support to sustain the operations of the Service.
“At this point, I must, with all humility and respect, make a passionate appeal to the Honourable Minister. The cost of running the operations of the FCT Fire Service is becoming increasingly high,” he said. “The price of Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) alone runs into millions of naira monthly, aside from the substantial expenses involved in maintaining our ageing fleet and facilities. We therefore plead for continued support from the administration to ensure that our Service remains fully functional, responsive, and well-equipped to discharge its duties effectively.”
