The Federal Fire Service has introduced a mandatory Fire Warden Training and Certification Programme for organisations that receive an average of at least 50 people daily.
The nationwide initiative is aimed at improving fire prevention, emergency preparedness and response in workplaces, schools, religious centres, business premises and other public facilities.
The programme was announced in a joint statement signed by the Commandant of the National Fire Academy, ACF Umetali Peter, and the Managing Director and Principal Consultant of Pilgrims Integrated Management Consult Limited, Ukpola Okereke Chinedu.
According to the Federal Fire Service, the initiative is designed to equip organisations with trained in-house fire wardens who can respond promptly to emergencies before professional firefighters arrive.
The service said investigations had shown that the absence of trained emergency responders in facilities could lead to delayed intervention, ineffective evacuation and preventable injuries and property losses.
It stated, “Fire outbreaks remain one of the leading causes of preventable loss of lives and property in Nigeria.”
Under the new programme, organisations are expected to nominate one fire warden for every 50 staff members, occupants, students, worshippers, customers or other average daily users of their facilities.
The Federal Fire Service said all nominated wardens would be required to complete the prescribed training and obtain certification from the service.
Registration for the programme has commenced, while the first phase of the training is scheduled to begin on August 31, 2026, at designated centres, starting with Lagos.
The service warned that facilities that fail to comply could face sanctions under the Federal Fire Service Act, including legal penalties and possible closure where they are considered unsafe for public use.
Emphasising the importance of early intervention, the service said, “Fire safety is a shared responsibility.”
It added that trained in-house responders could make a critical difference during the first few minutes of a fire outbreak, noting that prompt action could determine whether an incident is contained or escalates into a major disaster.
