At least seven people have been confirmed dead following Tuesday’s fire at Afriland Tower in the Lagos Island business district. The victims, who were evacuated from the high-rise building, died in hospitals across the state, while several others remain in critical condition.
The blaze, one of two separate fires that rocked the Lagos Island commercial hub the same day, also gutted parts of Mandilas Market and adjoining plazas, destroying more than 1,000 stalls and goods worth millions of naira.
Emergency officials said 11 people were rescued from Afriland Tower, with five resuscitated at the scene. However, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) confirmed the loss of four senior staff members working in its offices on the sixth and seventh floors of the building. They were identified as Mrs. Ekelikhostse George, Mr. David Sunday-Jatto, Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe, and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye.
Heirs Holdings chairman Tony Elumelu also mourned colleagues believed to be among the casualties from United Bank for Africa (UBA), describing the tragedy as “devastating.” He announced plans for a memorial service and support for bereaved families.
Eyewitnesses said the fire began around 1:45 p.m. with thick black smoke billowing from beneath the tower near its transformer. Videos circulating online showed occupants leaping from windows and being rescued with ladders before firefighters arrived.
Afriland Properties Plc, owners of the building, confirmed the incident but clarified that it occurred at its headquarters and not at UBA’s corporate head office, as initially reported on social media.
Meanwhile, at Mandilas Market, traders described how flames spread rapidly across multiple buildings late Tuesday, with many rushing to salvage goods while others accused looters of breaking into shops during the chaos.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, backed by federal crews, eventually contained the inferno, but three entire buildings were reduced to ruins.
The twin tragedies have renewed concerns about fire safety in Lagos’ crowded commercial centres, where faulty electrical systems, generators, and inverters have been linked to repeated disasters.
