By Omeiza Ajayi
ABUJA: The Federal Fire Service FFS entered the New Year on full operational alert, tackling multiple fire outbreaks across the country from midnight into the early hours of January 1, 2026, in what officials described as one of the busiest festive-season deployments in recent years.
The intensified nationwide response followed a December 2025 directive issued by the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Samuel Adeyemi, who had ordered that no firefighter should proceed on leave throughout the holidays.
According to a statement by the National Public Relations Officer and Head of Corporate Services of the FFS, DCF Paul Abraham, the no-leave policy proved critical as the Service moved swiftly to contain fires in several states.
The Federal Capital Territory FCT recorded its first fire incident of the year barely twenty-three minutes after midnight when flames erupted at Cake Hot Restaurant located within River Plate Park, Wuse, Abuja.
Abraham said fire crews from the Federal Fire Service and the FCT Fire Service arrived promptly and were able to stop the blaze before it could spread through the popular recreational centre.
While a section of the garden area was destroyed, no lives were lost and no injuries were recorded.
Officials said property worth an estimated ₦1.5 billion was saved, although losses were placed at about ₦500 million.
“Preliminary findings suggested that the fire was triggered by objects thrown during New Year celebrations, reinforcing long-standing warnings over the dangers posed by fireworks during the harmattan season”, the Service said.
The Controller General had repeatedly urged Nigerians to avoid fireworks, candles and open flames indoors, warning that the dry winds characteristic of the season allow fires to spread rapidly.
He also warned the public about electrical faults and power surges and advised that electrical appliances be switched off and unplugged when not in use or when occupants leave their homes, stressing that overloading sockets and extension boxes remains a significant cause of domestic fires.
Even as firefighters contained the Wuse incident, units across Lagos, Imo, Gombe, Kwara and other states were simultaneously responding to emergencies, a development that underscored the necessity of maintaining full manpower and operational readiness during periods of heightened risk.
In Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, firefighters battled a blaze that engulfed a wooden residential structure where property valued at about ₦10 million was saved, but losses were estimated at ₦20 million.Tragically, the fire claimed the life of an 11-year-old child.
Preliminary reports indicated that the incident was caused by a candle left unattended, prompting the Service to describe the death as deeply painful and entirely avoidable.
Controller General Adeyemi conveyed sympathy to the owner of the Abuja restaurant and extended heartfelt condolences to the family of the child who died in Yenagoa.
He reiterated that many fire incidents stem from routine actions that can easily be prevented through vigilance, stressing that the public must take harmattan-season safety warnings seriously.
He reminded Nigerians to switch off and unplug electrical appliances when not around, to avoid fireworks, candles and open flames indoors, and to pay close attention to fire safety during celebrations. He further urged citizens to report fire outbreaks immediately by calling the Federal Fire Service emergency line or visiting the nearest fire station.
“As we have seen from Abuja to Yenagoa, fire can break out in seconds,” Adeyemi warned, adding that basic safety measures remain the most effective preventive tools.
He said lives and livelihoods must take precedence over festivities and that the rapid nationwide response of firefighters from midnight into dawn demonstrated a Service fully prepared and committed to protecting Nigerians.
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