The recent appointment of the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), CG Olumode Samuel Adeyemi by the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the 14th August, 2025, is indeed a remarkable turnaround in the annals of the service and a change agent who is a welcome development.
Since the inception of the Federal Fire Service, this is the first time such an appointment has been made, which is hailed by all and sundry, including well-meaning Nigerians who have watched the present CG grow from the ranks and file to the highest office in the service with a lot of work experience transcending various departments and courses from both within and outside the country.
In a press release signed in Lagos by the Executive Secretary and Senior Research Fellow, Omoba Aigbegbele, it was stated that the appointment of CG Olumode has raised great expectations from Nigerians and in the diaspora, as it is seen by many to restore confidence, integrity, and credibility in an institution weakened by low morale and distrust.
As the helmsman comes in with an experience of unblemished record and sound professional background coupled with competence and commitment to service delivery and a knack for excellence, his career history and trajectory have been serviced by discipline, hard work, and a passion to reposition and rebrand wherever he finds himself, which has rekindled the hopes and aspirations of not only Nigerians but officers and men who have worked with the new CG over time.
The Chief Fire Officer carries a historic service burden to right the wrongs, enhance staff welfare, promote, mitigate fire disasters across the country, and is bound not to disappoint but to transform, reposition, and rebrand the office like never before seen and restore faith in the institution.
According to the release, throughout his illustrious career, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, integrity, and good character, which had earned him the respect and admiration of his peers and the public to be able to reform and drive the paradigm shift from what it used to be to a global international standard that Nigerians can be proud of.
The statement re-emphasized the new Controller-General’s tireless efforts in promoting transparency, accountability, and good governance, having shown exemplary leadership particularly with his previous schedules, roles, collaboration, and work-related partnership with NGOs, CBOs. Therefore, it is no surprise that he has risen to this enviable and esteemed position.
The appointment of CG Olumode is a testament to his efforts and unwavering dedication to the Federal Fire Service. As he assumes the mantle of this office, Citizens Watch Advocacy Initiative (CWAI) and other civil society organizations have every confidence that he will continuously uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and service delivery.
While CWAI looks forward to a tenure marked by unprecedented success and that the CG will continue to inspire and motivate his team and management to achieve greatness and a transformative philosophy which will lead to having a long-lasting impact in the service.
CWAI therefore endorses and thanks Mr. President for the appointment of the new Chief Fire Officer for enhanced productivity henceforth, timely response to fire emergencies, including awareness, sensitization, and collaboration with sister agencies to achieve the set mandate of the service, improved fire policies, and rebuild public trust and stakeholders’ engagement in the institution like never before seen for the overall betterment of the country.