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CWAI Commends Federal Fire Service CG Olumode for Strategic Direction, Institutional Reforms
The Citizens Watch Advocacy Initiative (CWAI) has praised the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, for his strategic leadership and efforts to consolidate developmental programmes within the agency, describing the result as a viable, accountable, and sustainable institution.
In a press release issued from Kaduna, the Director of Media and Stakeholder Engagement of CWAI, Mahmud Bello, said that since CG Olumode assumed leadership, the Federal Fire Service has recorded milestones never before seen in its history.
These include prompt payment of salaries, emoluments, and allowances; personnel promotions; improved fire policy doctrines and safety measures; enhanced advocacy and awareness campaigns; elevated staff morale and esprit de corps; seamless public-private partnerships with contractors and stakeholders; and robust inter-agency collaboration with sister disaster management agencies.
“The story at the Federal Fire Service has changed for the better — judging by personnel productivity and policy direction,” Bello stated, adding that many civil society organisations, faith-based groups, and stakeholders share this assessment.
CWAI noted that the present management has upgraded the fire academy, built institutional capacity, and carried out wide-ranging reforms. Personnel and officers now attend courses, seminars, and workshops domestically and internationally to improve manpower development skills. Most recently, Course 06 cadet officers passed out from the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s (NDLEA) training school.
The service has also launched a novel collaboration with the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) to run a Post-Graduate Diploma and Master’s Degree programme in disaster and risk management, described by CWAI as a source of pride for both institutions.
The Federal Fire Service has been building strategic partnerships with organisations including NEXIM Bank, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Atomic Energy Commission, and Transcorp PLC, among others. During a courtesy visit to NEXIM Bank, FFS management proposed integrating comprehensive fire safety frameworks into export-driven projects, with a focus on risk assessment, safety compliance, and emergency preparedness.
At the Atomic Energy Commission, the FFS leadership called for a robust, specialised fire and emergency response framework for nuclear-related incidents, to ensure that Nigeria’s growing atomic energy and research infrastructure remains safe.
Transcorp PLC received fire safety certification following successful emergency drills conducted jointly by Transcorp personnel and FFS officers. In engagements with the BUA Group under the Abdul Samad Rabiu Africa (ASR Africa) initiative, the service sought private sector backing to close critical gaps in Nigeria’s fire emergency system. CG Olumode was direct in naming those gaps: inadequate fire station coverage, limited firefighting equipment, and insufficient emergency medical response capacities.
“Improving response time is not optional; it is essential to saving lives. Expanding fire station networks and strengthening emergency medical services must be treated as national priorities,” the CG said. He called for joint operational drills and simulation exercises, structured training programmes for fire personnel, and community-level fire safety sensitisation under a structured partnership with ASR Africa.
CWAI also commended CG Olumode’s immediate response to a major inferno at the Singa Market in Kano State, as well as responses to incidents in other states, describing his approach as a model of proactive national service. On-the-spot assessments carried out across the country were cited as evidence of administrative responsibility and operational diligence.
In its statement, CWAI expressed confidence in CG Adeyemi’s leadership style, open-door policy, discipline, strategic engagement with civil society and the media, and his fight against indiscipline among staff. Acknowledging the paucity of funds allocated to the service, the organisation called on relevant authorities to improve the FFS budgetary allocation, arguing that the present management is doing its utmost to reposition and rebrand the service. “CWAI passes a vote of confidence in the leadership for its consolidation process and anti-corruption stance,” the statement concluded.
The Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to maintain the status quo in a dispute over the party’s candidates emerging from the Benue State APC primaries for the 2027 general election.
The order was made on Thursday by Justice Inyang Ekwo during proceedings in Suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/1429/2026, filed by Engr. Sesugh Akaagba and other aggrieved APC candidates from Benue State against the APC and INEC.
The plaintiffs had, through an ex parte motion filed on July 5, 2026, sought six interim reliefs, including an order restraining the APC from substituting its validly nominated candidates in Benue State through its June 29, 2026 correspondence, or any subsequent communication, to INEC, pending determination of the substantive suit.
They also sought an order compelling the APC to immediately transmit to INEC the names of candidates validly nominated during the primaries monitored by the electoral commission.
When the matter first came up on July 8, 2026, the court declined to grant the interim application immediately, directing both APC and INEC to appear and respond before any decision was taken. The matter was adjourned to July 16.
At Thursday’s proceedings, counsel representing the APC and INEC were present in court, while the plaintiffs were represented by Mohammed Ndarani, SAN, alongside his legal team.
In his ruling, Justice Ekwo held that since issues had been joined by the parties particularly with INEC now before the court, the defendants were required by law to preserve the subject matter of the litigation pending determination of the substantive suit.
When counsel to the plaintiffs urged the court to caution APC and INEC against taking any further action that could affect the disputed list of candidates, the judge responded that it was “not a matter of advice but of law,” stressing that the defendants were bound to maintain the status quo.
The court consequently restrained APC and INEC from taking any action capable of altering the disputed list of candidates pending the hearing and determination of the substantive suit.
The defendants did not object to the restraining order.
At the commencement of proceedings, the court noted that all parties had voluntarily submitted to its jurisdiction by duly filing and exchanging their respective processes.
It held that there was no procedural or jurisdictional impediment to the expeditious determination of the substantive action, and directed that the matter be heard without further delay.
In furtherance of the objective of preserving the res and safeguarding the efficacy of the judicial process, the court ordered all parties to maintain the status quo pending the hearing and final determination of the substantive suit, restraining any act or omission capable of prejudicing the rights of the parties or rendering the proceedings nugatory.
The court further directed that INEC be served forthwith with the originating and all consequential processes.
The effect of the subsisting order is that INEC is restrained from tampering with the existing list of candidates pending final determination of the suit, and from receiving, recognising, or acting upon any purported substituted list of National Assembly candidates from Benue State submitted by the APC.
The matter was adjourned to July 21, 2026, for hearing of the substantive suit.
Former President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and former First Lady Patience Ibifaka Jonathan recently celebrated a significant family milestone as they attended the graduation ceremony of their son, Ariara Goodluck Jonathan, at Manchester Metropolitan University in the United Kingdom.
The proud parents joined family members and well-wishers to witness Ariara receive his degree, marking the successful completion of his academic programme. The occasion was filled with joy as the Jonathan family commemorated the achievement, highlighting the importance they place on education and personal development.
The graduation ceremony attracted warm congratulatory messages from friends, associates, and admirers, who wished the graduate continued success in his future endeavours.
The Following names joined the political family of Sen. Dr. George Akume today after leaving the sinking Alia ship .
Under the leadership of Barr. Emmanuel Jime .
The are ;
Chief Nelson Alapa
Douglas pepe SAN senatorial Aspirant zone A,
Engr Peter Ashiekaa
QS Clement Beetseh
Former commissioners
Joy Luga
Ann itodo
Barr martins Shaagee
Miss Dorcas
Prof Usar Joseh
Prof Cephas Tushima
Chief Patrick Idoko
Hon Patience Akor
Hon Fred Idoko
Hon Lawrence Ekpo Onoja Jnr
Hon Andrew Abah
Hon Agbo Innocent Ikwumonu
Hon Simon Omachoko
Hon David Egboja
Dr John Garba
Among together,
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