- Afriland Tower fire death toll hits 10
- HURIWA faults response, urges N1b compensation for victims’ families
- Federal Fire Service orders probe into inferno
Emergency workers continued operations at Mandilas, Lagos Island, yesterday following a fire outbreak that shook the Balogun commercial hub earlier this week.
Eko Hot Blog reports that although the blaze had been largely subdued, flames were still visible in some affected structures, forcing rescuers to maintain a heavy presence at the scene.
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The inferno, which reportedly began on the fourth floor of Emab Plaza, a four-storey building tucked behind Mandilas, quickly spread to surrounding complexes. By the time the fire was contained, four buildings two four-storey, one three-storey, and one two-storey had been consumed.
Officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) later marked several adjoining shops for demolition as part of safety enforcement.
During operations, tension heightened when a man approached emergency workers claiming his brother was trapped in one of the burning buildings, though this could not be independently confirmed.
A shoe trader, Caroline Alabi, narrated her ordeal: “The fire started about 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday. I own a shop in Obama Plaza and lost everything. I live in Sangotedo, so I only arrived the next morning. By then, it was too late to save any of my goods.”
Alabi blamed inadequate firefighting equipment and incomplete safety projects for the scale of destruction, lamenting that business owners bore the brunt of repeated tragedies without insurance or government protection.
At the scene, Gbolahan Oki, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Office of Urban Development, criticised property owners for illegal extensions. He warned that non-compliant buildings would be demolished starting today, stressing that government could no longer tolerate obstructions that endanger lives.
Meanwhile, the casualty figure from the separate Afriland Tower fire on Broad Street has risen to 10. United Capital Plc confirmed yesterday that six of its employees died in the blaze, while the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) had earlier reported the loss of four staff members.
United Capital described the tragedy as an “immeasurable void” in a statement, pledging support for the families of the deceased and announcing plans for a memorial service.
The Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) waded in, condemning the deaths as avoidable.
The group blamed the incident on the absence of safety infrastructure such as hydrants, extinguishers, and emergency exits, calling it “criminal negligence.”
HURIWA urged bereaved families to sue the property owners, as well as the Lagos State and federal governments, demanding not less than ₦1 billion each in compensation.
The Federal Fire Service has since ordered a probe into the Afriland blaze. Controller General Samuel Adeyemi Olumode confirmed that an investigation team has been deployed to determine the causes, assess safety compliance, and recommend sanctions where necessary.
The Service also announced plans to establish a nationwide Fire Safety Compliance Task Force to audit buildings, sanction offenders, and train facility managers.
The agency commiserated with families of the victims, as well as affected institutions including FIRS and UBA.
