As Muslims across Nigeria prepare for the Eid al-Adha celebrations, the Controller General of the Federal Fire Service (FFS), Engr. Abdulganiyu Jaji, has issued an important safety advisory aimed at preventing avoidable fire outbreaks and accidents during the festive period.
In a statement personally signed and released ahead of the Sallah holiday, Engr. Jaji congratulated the Muslim faithful on the occasion while highlighting the increased risk of fire incidents, especially in kitchens, during large-scale meal preparations.
“Cooking is central to our Sallah celebrations,” Jaji noted, “but it is also the most common source of domestic fires. The risk is even higher during festivals when families prepare large meals at irregular hours.”
The Fire Service boss specifically cautioned against the common practice of overfilling cooking pans with oil, advising that oil should not exceed one-third of the pan’s depth. He stressed that most kitchen fires during festive seasons are caused by overheating oil or unattended stoves.
In his message, Jaji particularly appealed to wome who traditionally handle most of the festive cooking in many Nigerian homes to adopt safer cooking habits. He urged households to keep fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and smoke detectors readily available and operational.
“Always turn off your cooking stoves and electrical appliances before leaving the house,” he advised. “Prevention is the first step toward safety.”
On the popular tradition of roasting sacrificial animals during Eid, Jaji emphasized that such activities must be done in well-ventilated outdoor spaces, and that gas cylinders should be stored outside kitchens to reduce the risk of explosions.
The CG also warned parents to keep children away from open flames, matches, and cooking areas, noting that many fire incidents have been triggered by unsupervised children.
Beyond domestic concerns, Jaji extended his caution to road and water transport users. He urged tanker and trailer drivers to reduce speed, avoid reckless driving, and obey traffic regulations to minimize road accidents, which are known to spike during festive periods.
For those traveling by water, he advised boat operators to take extra care, especially by monitoring water current levels and avoiding vessel overloading a frequent cause of fatal accidents during busy holidays.
“While the Federal Fire Service is on standby and fully prepared to respond to emergencies,” Jaji said, “our ultimate goal is to see Nigerians celebrate in peace, without any incident that endangers lives or property.”
He assured that fire service personnel would remain on high alert throughout the Eid period, with rapid response teams deployed to key areas nationwide.
As a final note, the Controller General encouraged citizens to promptly report any fire outbreak or emergency situation to the nearest fire station or contact the FFS emergency hotlines for immediate assistance.
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