Federal Inland Revenue Service mourn four staff members wey die for Afriland Towers fire outbreak for Lagos
September 16, 2025
Update: September 17, 2025
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has confirmed that four of its staff members lost their lives in the fire incident that occurred at the Afriland building in Lagos, Nigeria, on Tuesday, September 16.
In a statement released on Wednesday, September 17, FIRS spokesperson Dare Adekanmbi said the four deceased staff worked at one of the agency’s two offices located in the affected high-rise building.
The victims have been identified as:
- Mrs. Ekelikhostse Georg
- Mr. David Sunday-Jatto
- Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe
- Mr. Peter Ifaranmanye
The fire outbreak at Afriland Towers, located on Broad Street, Lagos Island, left many workers trapped inside. Viral videos on social media showed people leaping from the building’s windows in desperate attempts to escape.
Fire Response
Deputy Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Ogabi Olajide, confirmed that the service received a distress call at 1:38 p.m. Fire crews from Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu Fire Stations were deployed to the scene.
Olajide revealed that the fire started in the inverter room located in the basement, spreading smoke across multiple floors and engulfing the building.
“Evacuation of occupants was in progress while firefighting operations were already underway to calm the panic before the first responders arrived,” he explained.
Videos shared online also showed workers using ladders to climb down from the building to safety.
According to DCF P.O. Abraham, National PRO and Head of Corporate Services for the Federal Fire Service, swift intervention by rescue teams prevented the fire from spreading to other structures.
UBA Reacts
United Bank for Africa (UBA), one of the tenants in the Afriland building, issued a statement clarifying that the fire did not occur at its head office.
“We are aware of the fire outbreak at a high-rise building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, which houses one of our branches. Contrary to reports circulating on social media, the affected building is not UBA House, Marina, our head office,” the bank wrote on its official X account.
Past Fire Incidents in Lagos
Lagos has recorded several fire incidents in recent years, including:
- January 31, 2024: Household of David church in Ikeja was destroyed by fire while preparations for an evening program were underway.
- April 2024: Dosunmu Market in Idumota was gutted by fire, with victims counting losses worth billions of naira a week later.
- March 2022: Fire destroyed several shops at Ebutte Ero Market under Apongbon Bridge.
- November 2022: A fire incident on Victoria Island involved a police vehicle, resulting in casualties and injuries.
- February 15, 2021: A warehouse fire at Iddo Train Terminus, Ebute Metta, was caused by a power surge after electricity restoration.
- March 21, 2021: A 45,000-litre diesel tanker accident on Otedola Bridge sparked a fire that destroyed six vehicles.
The Lagos State authorities say investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the Afriland Towers fire.
Source Image: BBC News
Source Video: NTA Network