At least seven people have been confirmed dead following a fire outbreak on Tuesday at Afriland Tower, Marina, in the Lagos Island business district.
The victims, who were among those evacuated from the high-rise building, were confirmed dead in hospitals across Lagos, while several others are still receiving treatment for varying degrees of injury.
The incident was one of two major fires that rocked Lagos Island on Tuesday, with another inferno reported at Mandilas Market and adjoining plazas along Taiwo Street, destroying goods worth millions of naira.
Tragedy at Afriland Tower
Eyewitnesses said thick black smoke first billowed from the lower side of Afriland Tower around 1:45 pm, prompting panic among occupants. Videos shared on social media showed individuals attempting to jump from the upper floors of the building as others were rescued with ladders by residents and passersby before firefighters arrived.
Deputy Controller of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Ogabi Olajide, confirmed that 11 persons were evacuated, with five resuscitated at the scene.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), which occupies the sixth and seventh floors of the tower, later confirmed the death of four of its staff members: 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 during the fire incident at Afriland Towers,” the Service said in a statement on Wednesday.
UBA staff were also believed to be among the casualties, though the bank did not issue an official statement. However, Heirs Holdings Chairman, Tony Elumelu, in an internal message, mourned the loss of colleagues, describing the tragedy as “devastating” and cutting short his trip to the United States to return to Lagos.
An anonymous Lagos State government official confirmed that seven deaths were recorded across three hospitals—General Hospital, Odan; St. Nicholas Hospital, Campbell Street; and Avon Hospital, Surulere—while four other victims remain on admission.
Market Fire at Mandilas
Barely hours after the Afriland incident, another fire gutted Mandilas Market and three adjoining plazas—Central Plaza, Yol Plaza, and Obama & AO Building—destroying over 1,000 stalls.
Traders recounted that the fire, believed to have started from an old building, spread rapidly before firefighters contained it. Some shop owners managed to salvage their goods, while others lost everything.
Witnesses also expressed concern over looting that occurred during the chaos, as some individuals broke into shops while the fire was still raging.
Calls for Safety Measures
The twin fire incidents have heightened concerns about safety standards in Lagos’ commercial centres, particularly in older high-rise buildings where electrical faults, inverter malfunctions, and generator-related accidents are recurrent risks.
Authorities and property developers have repeatedly called for stricter enforcement of building safety codes to mitigate such tragedies in the future.