The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has announced plans to set up fire stations across public universities in Nigeria as part of efforts to strengthen fire safety and safeguard critical national assets in higher institutions.
The Executive Secretary of TETFund, Sonny Echono, disclosed this in Abuja during a courtesy visit by the Comptroller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Samuel Olumode Adeyemi. Echono commended the Fire Service for its role in protecting lives and property, noting that the collaboration is both necessary and timely.
He explained that TETFund has invested several trillions of naira in infrastructure development across federal and state tertiary institutions, making it essential to adopt preventive strategies to protect these facilities. According to him, the initiative will prioritise the installation of fire prevention and control systems such as hydrants, sprinklers, smoke detectors, and adequate training for personnel to handle emergencies.
Echono revealed that TETFund had experienced two fire incidents within the past year, prompting a full assessment of electrical installations and safety systems. He emphasized that prevention remains the most effective way to avoid future losses, adding that a Memorandum of Understanding is being developed to guide cooperation between TETFund and the Fire Service in staff training, safety audits, and risk assessment.
In his remarks, the Comptroller-General of the Federal Fire Service expressed concern over recent fire outbreaks in universities, noting that some cases resulted in the destruction of student hostels and loss of lives. He said the Fire Service will work closely with TETFund to ensure new and existing structures are equipped with smoke detectors, alarm systems, and other safety equipment, while also calling for regular inspections of campus facilities.
Adeyemi also stressed the need for fire stations to be physically located on campuses to enable immediate emergency response, assuring that the Fire Service is ready to deploy personnel, fire trucks, and round-the-clock support. He added that the Service is open to training partnerships and plans to upgrade its training schools into specialised centres for research and capacity development.
