FG mourns victims of Afriland Tower fire in Lagos, extends condolences

The Federal Government is deeply grieved by the tragic fire incident at the Afriland Tower in Lagos, which claimed the lives of some senior officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the United Capital PLC, while leaving scores injured.

Information and National Orientation Minister, Mohammed Idris who disclosed this in a statement said this is a most painful and devastating loss, not only to the families and institutions directly affected, but to the nation as a whole.
He, on behalf of the Federal Government said, “We extend heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, colleagues, and friends of the departed, as well as to the FIRS and UCP.

“Our thoughts and prayers are also with all those who sustained injuries, and we wish them a full and speedy recovery.
The Federal Government is working closely with the Lagos State Government to ensure that such tragic occurrences are thoroughly investigated and that appropriate measures are taken to prevent their recurrence in the future.

He prayed that God should comfort the bereaved, heal the wounded, and grant the nation the strength to overcome this painful moment.

Meanwhile, it was reported that at least 10 lives lost as a six-storey building on Broad Street in Island of Lagos State, housing a UBA branch inside Afriland Towers erupted in flames on Wednesday.
The fire reportedly started from the inverter room in the basement and crawled its way up through the structure.

In the chaos, UBA staff were forced to jump from as high as the third floor to escape. Some collapsed after landing, others froze in fear.

With no visible emergency exits and no immediate firefighting response, panic took over, according to these reports.