The 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party, Peter Obi has challenged the Federal Government (FG) to justify its tax collection by modernizing the nation’s fire services.
His demand follows a devastating wave of fire outbreaks that have swept through Nigerian markets, high-rise buildings, and student hostels in the first ten days of 2026, leaving a trail of death and economic ruin.
In a statement posted on his X page on Saturday, the former governor of Anambra State cataloged a series of catastrophic blazes that have occurred across the federation.
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The tragic Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Building inferno in Balogun, which claimed eight lives, and the latest outbreak at the LUTH College of Nursing Sciences hostel this morning.
Massive damages at Haiba Plaza (Malumfashi), Kure Market (Minna), and a Gusau warehouse (Zamfara).
Incidents at Buzaye Garage (Sokoto), Terminus Market (Plateau), and the Sabuwar Lale Furniture Market (Kano).
He argued that a nation which collects “various taxes and emergency funds” is under a moral and legal obligation to provide professional and responsive emergency services.
“It is imperative that we develop an effective national emergency response system, particularly in our markets and high-rise buildings, to safeguard lives and properties,” Obi stated.
He emphasised that the current “critical situation” within the fire services is a call for collective action, noting that the transformation must make these services not just “competent but also compassionate.”
Standing in solidarity with victims across the country, from Lagos to Zamfara, Obi urged the government to move beyond “mumbled regrets” and take swift, tangible action to support grieving families and traders who have lost their livelihoods.
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Obi demands a modernizing fire-fighting trucks and tools using existing tax revenues, elevating the responsiveness and professionalism of emergency personnel and establishing a coordinated emergency framework for high-density areas.
“Together, we can work towards creating a New Nigeria that is possible where safety and support are priorities for all,” he said.
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