The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) has revealed its intention to establish fire stations in public universities throughout Nigeria.
This initiative is part of efforts to enhance fire safety and safeguard national assets within higher education institutions.
TETFund’s Executive Secretary, Arch. Sonny Echono, made the announcement in Abuja during a courtesy visit from a high-ranking delegation led by Mr. Samuel Olumode Adeyemi, the Comptroller-General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS).
Echono praised the Federal Fire Service for its commitment to protecting lives and property, expressing gratitude for the visit, which he deemed timely and strategic.
He emphasized that TETFund’s primary mission is to provide infrastructure for teaching, learning, and research in both federal and state-owned tertiary institutions, highlighting that the value of assets developed through the Fund amounts to several trillions of naira.
He pointed out that maintaining these assets necessitates proactive measures, especially in fire prevention and management.
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“We cannot create these national assets without considering how to keep them functional and safe for users.
“Fire protection is crucial, which includes installing devices like hydrants, sprinklers, and smoke detectors, as well as ensuring personnel are properly trained to handle fire emergencies.
“We experienced two fire incidents here in the past year, prompting a thorough integrity assessment of our electrical systems and facilities. Prevention is a more effective strategy, and that is the goal of this collaboration.
“We will support this initiative through targeted interventions, while the Fire Service will provide the necessary manpower, training, and technical expertise,” he added.
Echono also mentioned that discussions are underway to formalize the partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that will cover areas such as staff training, risk assessments, and institutional safety audits.
In his early comments, Comptroller-General Adeyemi praised TETFund for its contributions to the advancement of Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, describing the Fund’s infrastructure projects as significant and transformative.
He noted that there have been multiple fire incidents in universities across the country recently, leading to considerable property losses and, in some cases, fatalities.
“In 2024 alone, we recorded fire outbreaks in three federal universities, including hostels where approximately 29 rooms were destroyed and several students lost their lives. This underscores the need for a stronger partnership with TETFund,” Adeyemi stated.
He proposed that fire safety equipment such as smoke detectors, alarm systems, and extinguishers be installed in all new and existing structures funded by TETFund.
