Fire Outbreak at Afriland Towers Claims 10 Lives: FIRS, United Capital Plc Mourn Staff

By Emmanuel Kwada

A devastating fire that ripped through the six-storey Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island, has left the Nigerian business community in mourning, with a confirmed death toll of 10 staff members from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and United Capital Plc. The blaze, which erupted on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, originated in the basement inverter room and rapidly spread, trapping occupants on upper floors and triggering chaotic evacuations.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of horror as thick black smoke billowed from the building, forcing desperate workers to smash windows for air and even jump from heights in attempts to escape.

Social media videos captured the pandemonium, with residents and passersby using ladders to aid rescues before professional firefighters arrived. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) received a distress call at 1:38 PM and dispatched crews promptly, rescuing nine people but unable to prevent the fatalities. Efforts to revive four others were ongoing, but the total confirmed deaths now stand at 10, with several injured receiving treatment.

FIRS, occupying the sixth and seventh floors with its Medium Tax Audit and Onikan Emerging Tax Office, confirmed the loss of four senior staff in a statement by Special Adviser on Media, Dare Adekanmbi.

The victims were identified as Mrs. Ekelikhostse George (Assistant Director), Mr. David Sunday-Jatto (Assistant Director), Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe (Senior Manager), and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye (Manager). “It is with a heavy heart that FIRS announces the tragic loss of four of its staff members… The management and entire staff are in deep shock and sorrow,” the statement read, vowing support for the bereaved families and a review of safety protocols nationwide.

It is with a heavy heart that FIRS announces the tragic loss of four of its staff members..

United Capital Plc, on the third and fourth floors, announced the passing of six colleagues in a poignant statement: “It is with profound grief that the Management and Staff of United Capital Plc announce the passing of six of our dear colleagues… Their loss leaves an immeasurable void.” The firm pledged comprehensive support to the families, emphasizing the victims’ roles as “cherished members of our United Capital family.”

Afriland Properties Plc, the building’s owner, confirmed the incident at its headquarters and commended emergency responders for their “heroic” efforts. Chairman Tony Elumelu, en route to the UN General Assembly, cut short his New York trip to return to Lagos, describing the event as “devastating” and announcing a minute of silence across his group companies. United Bank for Africa (UBA), another tenant, also mourned its affected colleagues.

The firm pledged comprehensive support to the families, emphasizing the victims’ roles as “cherished members of our United Capital family

President Bola Tinubu and First Lady Oluremi Tinubu expressed condolences, with the governor offering sympathies to victims’ families and affected organizations. Investigations by LSFRS, Federal Fire Service, and other agencies are underway to determine the exact cause, amid calls for stricter building safety regulations in Lagos’ commercial hubs. Social media erupted with grief and demands for accountability, highlighting the fire’s proximity to another blaze at nearby Mandilas Market hours later.

The tragedy underscores vulnerabilities in Nigeria’s urban infrastructure, with experts urging enhanced fire prevention measures. As families grieve, the nation reflects on the irreplaceable loss of dedicated professionals.