It was black Tuesday last week as fire wreak havoc on Afriland Towers, a property of Afriland Properties Plc,Broad Street, Lagos Island,as 10 people were reportedly killed.
After the the inferno, there has been public outcry as people have accused the management of the tower which harbours many corporate organizations, including Banks and other institutions of negligence.
In a swift reactions ,the management has debunked misrepresentation of facts in the public domain, stating the true position of things.
President Bola Tinubu, Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, and Presidential Candidate of the Labour Party, LP, in the 2025 election, Peter Obi, had in separate messages, expressed their condolences to family members, management of Federal Inland Revenue Service, FIRS, United Bank for Africa, UBA, and United Capital Plc over unfortunate incident.
However, the management of the property has cleared the air on the real cause of the fire incidents ,which it described as unfortunate.
The management has also hinted on the measures being taken to alleviate the sufferings of the accident victims’families.
In an interview with Head, Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communications
Afriland Properties Plc, Chukwunonso Okafor,
gave a graphic account on how the fire incident originated from the inverter room located in the basement of Afriland Towers and other security and safety measures taken by the management
In his word: “Safety protocols were activated immediately the incident occurred. However, the thick black smoke and intense heat generated quickly filled the basement and spread rapidly throughout the building,
” The smoke spread rapidly throughout the building, severely compromising visibility and restricting access to designated evacuation routes. Under these challenging conditions, some occupants resorted to exiting through the windows in their efforts to reach safety. The intensity of the incident created significant disorder and hindered effective communication.”
Mr Okafor,who maintained that there was functioning fire alarm, said that the building is equipped with fire alarms and safety systems. ” The alarms were triggered and though some occupants indicated they heard them some others didn’t. This is being investigated. However, alarms are installed on all floors.
” The fire started around 1:20pm. The on-site fire champions activated the fire protocol, while the first responders came in about 20 minutes later. We remain grateful for their efforts, and for the support of well-meaning Nigerians, who helped to bring the situation under control
” Afriland Towers has documented safety procedures, regular drills, and standard fire evacuation plans. However, the rapid spread of thick smoke made evacuation extremely difficult.”
On the emergency exits, he said,the building is designed with two dedicated emergency staircases providing access from all floors, as well as multiple exit points on the ground floor. However, the rapid spread of smoke severely limited the use of these escape routes.
” Afriland Towers is equipped with fire safety features, including smoke extractors, fire reels, and extinguishers, all in compliance with recommendations from both the Federal and State Fire Services. It is important to note that the fire was contained within its point of origin. We also engage safety regulators regularly to certify that our buildings meet all requirements for occupancy, and there are valid certifications to verify this.”
However, the public has questioned whether fire drills were conducted regularly for staff to know what to do in fire incidents, and Okafor explained that fire drills are an integral part of the safety culture at Afriland Towers, saying “We have regular fire drills overseen by the fire service and the building safety protocols are certified annually by both the federal and state fire service. In addition, each floor of the building has a designated fire warden, and these fire wardens are trained annually.”
Okafor who spoke extensively on why was UBA’s initial statement dismissive when Afriland and Heirs Holdings is their sister company, said,” we believe that the initial statement was intended to prevent emergency services from being misdirected, as early reports mistakenly suggested that the UBA head office was on fire. We also acknowledge their subsequent clarifications and their expressions of sympathy.”
The aggrieved man, who was devastated by the casualties recorded inferno,also, spoke on plans for the victims family.
In his words, ” sadly, we recorded 10 fatalities, including members of United Capital Plc and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. We extend our deepest condolences to their families and are working closely with the affected organizations to ensure that the bereaved are supported with compassion and practical assistance.Based on available information, the primary cause of casualties was smoke inhalation.”
On way forward, he said the building would undergo a full structural, safety, and regulatory review before anyone is asked to return, adding that Staff welfare and confidence remain paramount, and alternative arrangements would continue until the building is certified completely safe.
” We are prioritising the well-being of all staff. This includes precautionary medical evaluations, structured assistance during this grieving period, and counselling support. In addition, management is reviewing long-term support mechanisms to ensure our people are cared for and valued.
” The building is insured , the responsible officers are currently reviewing the details, and we are also awaiting the official report, which will guide the next steps.
” We are undertaking a comprehensive safety review of Afriland Towers and all our managed facilities. This includes: working with independent fire safety experts, regulatory agencies, and insurers to ensure elevated safety protocol even beyond regulatory requirements.”
He continued that,” the building will remain closed until it undergoes thorough safety audits, deep post-fire cleaning, and any necessary reconstruction or system upgrades. Additional measures will also be implemented to restore the environment and ensure it is fully habitable. Re-occupation will only take place once the building has been certified safe by the relevant authorities.”
Still on welfare and way forward , he explained that,we have put in place grief counselling, flexible work arrangements, and dedicated support channels for staff. This is a time of mourning and healing, and staff welfare remains our highest priority.
” There are invaluable lessons that will not only help prevent a reoccurrence, but also ,provide guidance and support to other organisations in strengthening their disaster prevention measures.We are working closely with all regulatory agencies, and their findings will shape the next phase of corrective measures. ” We value and welcome their oversight.
Our other properties continue to operate safely. However, we are proactively reviewing all facilities under our management to ensure they meet the highest safety standards. This incident will strengthen our commitment to safety across our portfolio.”
