Abubakar Siddiq Ibn Usman
Nigeria’s corporate community has been thrown into mourning after Tuesday’s fire at Afriland Towers, Broad Street, Lagos, claimed the lives of 10 professionals from two major institutions, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and United Capital Plc.
The Federal Inland Revenue Service had earlier announced the death of four senior staff members, including two assistant directors, who were trapped when smoke from the basement inverter room engulfed the building.
One of the victims, Assistant Director David Sunday-Jatto, was said to have been in the office that day to officially hand over to his successor after a transfer when the tragedy struck.
United Capital, an investment and financial services group, confirmed on Thursday that six of its employees died from the inferno, describing the loss as “an immeasurable void” in its corporate family. Preparations, the firm added, are underway for a memorial service to honour the deceased.
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Emergency responders said while several occupants escaped unharmed, nine casualties were rescued and five others hospitalised.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that, the blaze originated from the building’s inverter room before spreading rapidly.
Both institutions pledged full support to the families of the deceased while assuring staff of improved safety protocols.
The FIRS said it would conduct a comprehensive review of safety measures across its nationwide offices in collaboration with emergency agencies.
The tragedy, one of the deadliest corporate fire incidents in Lagos in recent years, has sparked renewed concerns about workplace safety and emergency preparedness in high-rise buildings across the city.
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Rabiu M. Hamza
Agency News
