Afriland Towers F!re Has Claimed 20 L!ves So Far, Not 10 As Reported –Sources
Afriland Towers Fire Has Claimed 20 Lives So Far, Not 10 As Reported –Sources
According to Afriland Properties Plc, managers of the property, in a statement on Friday, the fire broke out at about 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday in the inverter room located in the basement of the high-rise building.
The death toll from the devastating fire at Afriland Towers in Lagos has climbed to 20, sources told SaharaReporters on Sunday.
According to Afriland Properties Plc, managers of the property, in a statement on Friday, the fire broke out at about 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday in the inverter room located in the basement of the high-rise building.
According to the company, safety alarms were triggered, and on-site officers immediately activated emergency fire protocols.
Despite the swift response, thick smoke and extreme heat quickly spread through the building, complicating evacuation efforts.
On casualties, Afriland said that 10 fatalities were recorded, including staff of United Capital Plc and the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
However, SaharaReporters gathered from reliable inside sources on Sunday that the fire incident has so far claimed 20 lives.
“Twenty people dead so far, not 10,” one of the sources said.
The cause of death, based on preliminary findings, was primarily smoke inhalation. Afriland said it is working closely with the families of the deceased to provide both financial and emotional support.
Afriland Properties announced that the Towers will remain closed indefinitely. Staff and tenants will not return until comprehensive structural assessments, safety audits, post-fire cleaning, and reconstruction work have been completed.
The company stressed that the building will only reopen once it is fully certified safe.
Eyewitness reports had questioned why some occupants were forced to jump from windows to escape. Afriland explained that smoke rapidly filled the building, restricting visibility and blocking evacuation routes, which created confusion and hindered communication.
The company claimed that the six-storey building is fitted with alarms, smoke extractors, extinguishers, and other safety systems in line with federal and state requirements. While alarms were triggered, Afriland acknowledged that not all occupants heard them.
In response to criticisms about late emergency response, the firm clarified that first responders arrived about 20 minutes after the fire began, contrary to claims that help came three hours later.
The company noted that Afriland Towers had two emergency staircases, multiple exit points, and valid safety certifications, with regular fire drills conducted under fire service supervision.
However, it admitted that the tragedy had exposed critical gaps and pledged to strengthen safety protocols across all properties under its management.
“The building will remain closed until it undergoes thorough safety audits, deep post-fire cleaning, and any necessary reconstruction or system upgrades,” it said.
“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.”
Earlier on Sunday, SaharaReporters reported that the building is owned and managed by Afriland Properties Plc, the real estate investment arm of billionaire Tony Elumelu’s Heirs Holdings Group.
Heirs Holdings, a family-owned investment company chaired by Elumelu, has interests spanning banking, power, healthcare, and hospitality.
Through Afriland Properties, the group oversees several landmark projects, including Afriland Towers at 97–105 Broad Street, Lagos Island. The building also houses a branch of United Bank for Africa (UBA), where Elumelu serves as chairman.
“Afriland is owned by Tony Elumelu, who then rents part of it to his bank, UBA,” an inside source said.
Elumelu Speaks On Tragedy
Last Wednesday, Elumelu expressed deep sorrow over the fire outbreak at the building.
In a statement, Elumelu said he was “shattered” by the tragedy, describing it as a painful reminder of the irreplaceable value of people who drive the company’s mission daily.
“No words can capture the magnitude of this loss, not for their families who loved them, not for the friends who valued them, and not for those of us who worked beside them,” he said.
Elumelu said that he learnt of the incident while en route to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA), and decided to cut short his trip and return to Lagos “as a mark of respect to our lost colleagues.”
He urged staff and colleagues to show solidarity by reaching out to those injured and currently receiving care, stressing that the company would provide sustained support to the bereaved families.
The fire, which broke out on Tuesday afternoon, initially caused widespread panic after reports circulated that UBA’s headquarters was on fire.
UBA later issued a statement to calm fears, stressing that its Marina head office, UBA House, was not involved in the incident.
“We are aware of the fire incident at a building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, which incidentally houses one of our many branches in Lagos Island,” the bank said
“As against reports on online and social media, the affected building is not UBA House, Marina, the Bank’s head office.”
The bank added that all staff, customers, and visitors at the Broad Street branch were safely evacuated.
Despite those assurances, it was later confirmed on Friday that at least 10 people had died in the fire. Videos shared online showed desperate office workers leaping from windows to escape the smoke-filled floors, while passersby mounted frantic rescue efforts with makeshift equipment.
Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as smoke billowed from the tower, drawing large crowds to Broad Street while emergency responders struggled to gain access.
