President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed DCG Olumode Adeyemi as the new Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), taking over from Abdulganiyu O. Jaji, who served between April 2022 to July 2025 – completing the last part of former President Buhari and opening the tenure of the incumbent president.
This is contained in a press release signed by the Secretary to the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Maj. Gen. AM Jubril (Rt).
“The CDCFIB is pleased to announce the appointment of DCG Olumode Samuel Adeyemi as the new substantive Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), effective 14th August, 2025,” the statement read in part.
Adeyemi’s emergence is expected to mark a strategic leadership transition in the nation’s firefighting and emergency response architecture. With a career that spans over three decades in fire and disaster management, Adeyemi steps into the top role with a formidable resume, reputation, and a track record of operational reforms.
While his appointment has sparked optimism among emergency service stakeholders, it has also raised expectations for a new era of accountability and innovation in fire service, an agency initially established in 1901 as an arm of the Lagos Police Fire Brigade, and later in April 1963, established by an Act of parliament as the Federal Fire Service.
Olumode Adeyemi’s Career Journey
Olumode Samuel Adeyemi began his career in the fire service as a frontline officer, battling some of the country’s most dangerous urban and industrial fires in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
A native of Kogi State, Adeyemi was known early on for his hands-on approach and commitment to professional excellence.
His rise through the ranks was not only swift but marked by consistent excellence, including meritorious service awards from the Ministry of Interior and multiple commendations from his peers.
Adeyemi is a respected member of several professional associations. His affiliation includes:
- Member of the Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN)
- Fellow of the Institute of Corporate Administration of Nigeria (FCAI)
- Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration of Nigeria (FPA)
- Member of the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management of Nigeria
These affiliations reflect his commitment to sound governance, administrative excellence, and financial integrity in public service.
Operational Reformer and Safety Advocate
Before his appointment as Controller General, Olumode Adeyemi served as the Deputy Controller General in charge of Operations and Strategy, where he led key interventions during nationwide fires across the country.
Under his watch, the service implemented one of the most expansive retraining programmes in its history, targeting thousands of officers across all six geopolitical zones.
A passionate advocate of fire prevention through education, Adeyemi championed a legislative overhaul to empower the FFS with regulatory authority over fire audits for both public and private structures.
Will the new CG restore Public Confidence in the Fire Service?
For decades, experts says, the Federal Fire Service has battled a credibility crisis, stemming from underfunding, dilapidated infrastructure, poor response times, and inadequate training.
Olumode Adeyemi’s appointment has brought widespread commendation from industry professionals, emergency management experts, and public policy analysts who see in him a rare blend of technical experience and strategic foresight.
Amina Balogun, a disaster risk reduction specialist described Adeyemi’s elevation as “a significant step in the right direction.”
“He brings not just field-tested experience but also a deep understanding of public administration, which is crucial for institutional reform. His leadership could transform how Nigerians interact with the Federal Fire Service,” she said.
Echoing similar sentiments, Yusuf Ibrahim, a senior disaster management officer, lauded Adeyemi’s transparency and reform-driven mindset.
“In an agency long plagued by procurement opacity and slow response times, his open-door approach and emphasis on operational efficiency could reset the narrative,” he noted.
A Nation Watches
Frontline responders also appear to welcome the change. As expectations rise, many observers agree that Adeyemi’s success will hinge on his ability to navigate political will, secure adequate funding, and institutionalise reforms.
Still, for now, the consensus within expert circles is clear: Nigeria’s fire service is, once again, in the hands of a man who knows the job, because he has demonstrated capacity like the outgoing CG Olola Jaji.
Quick Facts About New CG Fire
- He is a native of Kogi State, bringing regional balance to national emergency leadership.
- He has over 30 years of experience in fire and emergency service, rising through the ranks from frontline officer to Controller General.
- He transferred his service from the FCT Fire Service to the Federal Fire Service (FFS), where he eventually became Deputy Controller-General of Fire in the Human Resource Directorate.
- He is a Member or Fellow of several professional bodies, including ANAN, FCAI, FPA, and the Chartered Institute of Treasury Management of Nigeria.
- He replaced Abdulganiyu O. Jaji as Controller General, who was appointed by late former President Muhammadu Buhari in April 2022.
Talking Points
It is encouraging to see that the Federal Fire Service is once again under the leadership of someone who has worked extensively across operations, strategy, and emergency response. DCG Olumode Adeyemi’s appointment brings credibility and deep sectoral experience at a time when public confidence in emergency services is fragile.
His operational background and professional affiliations give him a unique blend of street-level insight and administrative depth, qualities often missing in some leadership appointments within public safety institutions.
At Techparley, we suggest that CG Adeyemi should focus on the decentralisation and optimisation of emergency response, invest human capacity development, public education/advocacy, and most importantly broker cross-agency and more private sector collaboration that will position the service as a leading agency of government.
With the right budgetary support and political will, his tenure could serve as a blueprint for transforming not just the fire service, but public institutions broadly, into a trusted, efficient arms of governance.
