The Minister of Interior, Dr Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, has affirmed that President Bola Tinubu’s appointment of Olumode Adeyemi as Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS) was based purely on merit and capacity, not personal connections.
Speaking during Adeyemi’s decoration ceremony on Thursday in Abuja, Tunji-Ojo described the role as “an opportunity only a few ever get,” urging the new FFS boss to deliver results that will stand the test of time.
“The President did not look at who you are or whose son you are, but at your capability. He has invested his trust in you. When you look back years from now, make sure you can say you served well,” he charged.
The Minister cautioned Adeyemi to brace for resistance, stressing that leadership demands conviction and courage, not popularity. He pledged his own full support but warned against expecting universal approval.
Highlighting the importance of the Fire Service, Tunji-Ojo said every life lost in a fire incident should be regarded as a failure of the agency. He also disclosed that the National Assembly is working on a new Fire Service Act to strengthen rescue operations and improve efficiency.
Adeyemi, in his acceptance speech, pledged total loyalty to President Tinubu and promised to lead the Service with integrity, diligence, and purposeful leadership. He thanked the Minister, the Permanent Secretary Dr Magdalene Ajani, and the Secretary of the Civil Defence, Correctional, Fire and Immigration Services Board (CDCFIB), Major General Abdulmalik Jibrin (retd), for their support in his career advancement.
He vowed to work with stakeholders to transform the FFS into “a model of efficiency, discipline, and public trust,” acknowledging the dedication of officers and personnel across the ranks.
The event marked Adeyemi’s formal takeover from former CG, Engr. Abdulganiyu Kaji.
