Afriland Properties Plc has officially confirmed that ten persons lost their lives in the fire that devastated Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island.
Recall Lagos was thrown into mourning last week after a devastating fire engulfed Afriland Towers, a prominent high-rise on Broad Street, Lagos Island.
Afriland Properties Plc, managers of the building, has now issued a detailed clarification on the tragic incident, confirming that ten lives were lost despite swift emergency response.
According to the company, the fire started around 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday in the building’s basement inverter room. Thick smoke quickly spread through several floors, blocking visibility and sealing off escape routes.
Eyewitnesses reported that the sudden smoke made it almost impossible for some occupants to find their way to the designated exits, forcing a few to take desperate measures, including jumping from windows to save their lives.
Afriland Properties explained that Afriland Towers is fully fitted with fire-safety systems such as alarms, smoke extractors, fire extinguishers, and multiple emergency staircases.
The firm said evacuation protocols were activated immediately and on-site safety teams, described as “fire champions” began ushering tenants out even before the arrival of first responders, who reached the scene within 20 minutes.
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Despite these measures, the speed of the smoke spread overwhelmed several escape routes and tragically claimed lives through smoke inhalation.
Among the ten confirmed fatalities were staff members of United Capital Plc and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
The FIRS victims include George Faith Ekelikhostse and David Sunday-Jatto, both Assistant Directors, along with Nkem Onyemelukwe and Peter Ifaranmaye.
From United Capital, the deceased are Jesutoni Shodipo, Opeyemi Oloyede, Kehinde Adeoye, Olumide Oyefodunrin, Ndidi Osaemedike-Okeke, and Rebecca Adenuga.
Medical reports indicate that all ten died primarily from smoke inhalation rather than direct burns.
In its statement, Afriland Properties expressed deep condolences to the families and colleagues of those who perished.
The company announced that Afriland Towers has been shut indefinitely to allow for a full structural inspection, comprehensive safety audit, post-fire cleaning, and system upgrades. Re-entry into the building will only be allowed after relevant regulatory bodies certify it safe for occupancy.
Lagos State emergency agencies are continuing investigations to determine the exact cause of the fire and to review the sequence of events that led to the fatalities. Authorities are also assessing whether existing safety protocols were sufficient or require stronger enforcement.
The tragedy has sparked renewed debate about high-rise safety in Nigeria’s commercial capital. For now, Afriland Properties maintains that while safety infrastructure was in place, the rapid spread of smoke and the intensity of the fire created a deadly scenario that even well-prepared systems struggled to contain.
As families of the deceased begin burial preparations, Lagos mourns a painful reminder of the urgent need for strict fire safety compliance and regular emergency drills in commercial buildings across the city.
