A devastating fire erupted at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island, on Tuesday afternoon, resulting in a significant loss of life and extensive damage. Initial reports from Afriland Properties Plc, managers of the building, confirmed 10 fatalities, including staff from United Capital Plc and the Federal Inland Revenue Service. However, reliable sources later indicated the death toll had climbed to 20. Preliminary findings consistently cited smoke inhalation as the primary cause of death for the victims.

The fire, which broke out at approximately 1:20 p.m. in the inverter room located in the basement, triggered safety alarms and prompted on-site officers to activate emergency protocols. Despite these measures, thick black smoke and extreme heat rapidly spread throughout the high-rise building, severely complicating evacuation efforts. Eyewitnesses reported desperate scenes of occupants leaping from windows to escape. Afriland Properties explained that the rapid spread of smoke restricted visibility, blocked evacuation routes, and created significant confusion, hindering effective communication.

Afriland Properties stated that the six-storey building is equipped with fire safety features, including alarms, smoke extractors, fire reels, and extinguishers, all in compliance with federal and state requirements. The company also noted the presence of two dedicated emergency staircases and multiple ground-floor exit points, along with valid safety certifications and a history of regular fire drills conducted under fire service supervision. While alarms were triggered, Afriland acknowledged that not all occupants heard them, an issue currently under investigation, and that the rapid spread of smoke limited the usability of escape routes. The firm clarified that first responders arrived within 20 minutes of the fire's commencement, contrary to claims of a much longer delay.

The Afriland Towers building is owned and managed by Afriland Properties Plc, the real estate investment arm of billionaire Tony Elumelu’s Heirs Holdings Group, which also has interests in banking, power, healthcare, and hospitality. A branch of United Bank for Africa (UBA), where Elumelu serves as chairman, is also housed within the building. Initial reports mistakenly suggested UBA’s headquarters was on fire, prompting UBA to issue a statement clarifying that its Marina head office, UBA House, was not involved, but a Broad Street branch was. Afriland's Head of Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Chukwunonso Okafor, later explained that UBA's initial statement was intended to prevent emergency services from being misdirected.

Tony Elumelu, who learned of the incident while en route to the United Nations General Assembly in New York, cut short his trip to return to Lagos, expressing deep sorrow and describing the tragedy as a painful reminder of the irreplaceable value of people. He pledged sustained support to bereaved families and urged solidarity for those injured. Afriland Properties also announced comprehensive support for surviving employees, including grief counselling, flexible work arrangements, and precautionary medical evaluations.

In the aftermath, Afriland Towers has been shut down indefinitely. The company stressed that staff and tenants would not return until comprehensive structural assessments, safety audits, deep post-fire cleaning, and any necessary reconstruction or system upgrades are completed, and the building is fully certified safe by relevant authorities. Afriland Properties has committed to undertaking a comprehensive safety review of all its managed properties in collaboration with regulators and independent fire safety experts. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) reacted to the tragedy, expressing grief and condemning what it described as systemic negligence and state failure in preventing such recurring fire outbreaks.