Chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu, has cut short his trip to the United States for the United Nations General Assembly following the fire outbreak at Afriland Towers, Lagos Island, which claimed the lives of some of his staff.
In a message to staff on Wednesday, September 17, Elumelu confirmed the deaths and expressed grief over the incident.
“I learnt of this on my way to the US, en route to New York for UNGA. I have cut short my trip to return to Lagos as a mark of respect for our lost colleagues,” he wrote.
“I am shattered by yesterday’s incident at Afriland Towers that took the lives of our dear colleagues. 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. Yesterday was a stark reminder of what truly matters: our irreplaceable people, those who walk through our doors each day and share our mission.”
Elumelu directed that a minute of silence be observed across all Heirs Holdings companies on Wednesday and announced that a memorial service would be held in the coming days. He also pledged full support for the families of the deceased and thanked emergency responders and members of the public who assisted during the tragedy.
Afriland Properties Plc, which manages the building, said the blaze started in the inverter room before smoke spread to multiple floors, including emergency exits.
Chukwunonso Okafor, head of marketing and corporate communications, said:
“From the moment the incident was reported, the Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Fire Service and other emergency services were promptly alerted and on the scene to contain the fire and coordinate rescue efforts. Their swift intervention was instrumental in mitigating further damage and managing the situation.”
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) confirmed that nine people were rescued, five of whom were successfully resuscitated, while efforts were made to revive four others. Several others escaped unhurt.
Afriland Properties said investigations into the cause of the fire had begun and assured that it was working closely with relevant authorities.
The six-storey Afriland Towers, located on Broad Street in Lagos Island’s business district, houses multiple businesses, including a branch of UBA.
