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Concerned Citizens Petition Interior Minister Over Lack Of Fire Service In Nasarawa Local Government Area 

Residents of Nasarawa Local Government Area in Nasarawa State have raised serious concerns over what they describe as the persistent failure and near-total absence of functional firefighting services in the area, warning that the situation continues to endanger lives and property.

In a formal petition addressed to the Honourable Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, concerned citizens of the LGA called for urgent federal intervention to address what they termed a “systemic neglect” of fire safety infrastructure in the area.

The petition, signed by Dr. A. S. Oloko on behalf of the concerned residents, lamented that the absence of functional firefighting equipment and personnel has led to recurring fire disasters that have destroyed properties worth hundreds of millions of naira.

According to the document, Nasarawa LGA is one of the largest local government areas in Nigeria, covering approximately 5,704 square kilometres—larger than the entire landmass of Lagos State and significantly bigger than Anambra State. The petitioners argued that managing such a vast territory without a mobile and properly equipped fire response system makes emergency intervention practically impossible.

The residents further noted that the local government area has a projected population of over 290,000 people, describing the situation as a grave public safety concern affecting nearly a third of a million Nigerians.

They also highlighted the presence of major commercial and academic institutions within the LGA, particularly the Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa, which attracts thousands of students, traders, and visitors daily. According to them, this has created a high-density environment that requires a strong emergency response structure.

Despite reported federal budgetary allocations for modern firefighting equipment in the 2024 and 2025 fiscal years, the residents alleged that Nasarawa LGA remains what they described as a “firefighting desert,” with the local sector command lacking operational fire trucks, water tankers, and rapid response capacity.

The petition lamented that during fire outbreaks, residents are often forced to rely on rudimentary methods such as buckets of water to control raging fires—an approach they described as dangerous and unacceptable in modern times.

To address the situation, the concerned citizens demanded several urgent measures from the Federal Government, including the permanent deployment of at least two functional firefighting trucks and a rapid intervention vehicle to the LGA.

They also called for a comprehensive review of the local fire service command to ensure that personnel are adequately equipped and motivated to respond effectively to emergencies. Additionally, they urged the government to collaborate with relevant water authorities to install fire hydrants in high-risk locations, particularly around the main market and the Federal Polytechnic area.

The petition stressed that government has a fundamental responsibility to protect lives and property, warning that recurring fire disasters can no longer be dismissed as natural occurrences when they are being worsened by what the residents described as clear institutional negligence.

Copies of the petition were also sent to the Comptroller General of the Federal Fire Service in Abuja and the Nasarawa State Command of the fire service for further action.

Residents say they are hopeful that the Federal Government will respond swiftly in line with its commitment to strengthening public safety and infrastructure across the country.