A lavish motorcade accompanying the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service, Olumode Adeyemi, during a visit to his home state of Kogi has triggered widespread reactions online, with many Nigerians questioning priorities within the country’s emergency services.
Videos that surfaced on social media on Monday captured a long convoy of red Federal Fire Service vehicles, including Toyota pickups, SUVs, motorcycles, support vans, and black utility vehicles, moving through highways and inner roads.
In one clip, security personnel dressed in dark suits and red ties were seen surrounding a red SUV as the convoy approached a busy venue.
Another showed Adeyemi stepping out of the vehicle to a crowd of cheering residents.
The visit, described as a royal homecoming and thanksgiving ceremony, marked Adeyemi’s return to Kogi following his appointment as Controller-General in July 2025.
During the occasion, he reportedly received blessings from traditional rulers and pledged to establish a new fire station in Kabba.
The Federal Fire Service had earlier shared footage of the event on its official platforms on April 4, noting, “CGF Olumode Adeyemi returns home to Kogi, receives royal blessings, as stakeholders commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and call for stronger fire safety. Fire station in Kabba underway.”
However, the display has drawn significant criticism from social media users, many of whom highlighted what they described as a mismatch between the agency’s visible resources and the reported challenges faced by fire stations nationwide.
“How can anyone realistically hope for Nigeria to improve with this kind of outrageous display from the head of a federal fire agency?
“This isn’t even an exaggeration, about 90% of federal fire stations reportedly lack functional fire engines, yet the agency’s leadership has the funds to acquire multiple SUVs.
It’s beyond frustrating. It’s unacceptable,” #ogundamisi reacted on X on Monday.
Influencer Kalu Aja wrote, “Fire Service ooh. Recurrent budget go hear am. Everyone is a big man.”
Another user, #bin_gbada, criticised the number of luxury vehicles in the convoy, arguing that the funds could have been used to procure essential firefighting equipment.
READ ALSO: Seyi Law Sparks Backlash With Defiant Pro-Tinubu Tirade On Social Media
“Those luxury SUVs will buy 3–4 firefighting trucks. Once again, we are not poor. We are being criminally mis-governed.
Nigeria presently has fewer than 250 fire-fighting trucks for a population of over 200 million people.
How do you explain that the Controller-General of the Federal Fire Service has several brand-new luxury SUVs in his convoy, as long as that of a head of state? We cannot continue like this!”
Concerns were also raised about the use of government resources, with some questioning whether public institutions were being deployed for political or personal promotion.
“These people are using every institution of this country to campaign and promote their nonsense agenda. Nigeria has never been this bad.
“Imagine displaying such nonsense in a country where we don’t have enough fire service stations. These are misplaced priorities,” #Bashir_GS wrote.
Despite the backlash, some commentators defended the event, describing it as a routine ceremonial reception for a senior government official.
“Every high-ranking public servant deserves proper protocol and security when visiting their hometown. This is standard for a Controller-General.
The cultural display and thanksgiving service were beautiful to see,” one user wrote on X.
Praying for the CG, #Obaluck84293 said, “Welcome Sir. Weldone Job Sir. God Bless Olumode. God Bless Bunmi Tunji Ojo. God Bless President Bola Tinubu. God Bless Federal Republic of Nigeria.”