First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has condoled with Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the families of victims affected by Tuesday’s fire at Afriland Building on Broad Street, Lagos Island.
In a statement issued Thursday in Abuja, Mrs. Tinubu also commiserated with the management and staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service, United Capital, and United Bank for Africa.
“I condole with Gov. Sanwo-Olu, the people of the state, and affected organizations, including FIRS and UBA, over the tragic fire at Afriland Towers that claimed ten lives.
“May God Almighty comfort the families, colleagues, and loved ones of the departed and the injured during this time of deep grief and pain,” the First Lady added in her message.
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She also prayed for the peaceful repose of the deceased, quick healing for the injured, and strength for those left behind to bear the weight of such an irreplaceable loss.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports the incident was one of two separate fire outbreaks in the Lagos Island Business District on Tuesday, which injured many and destroyed goods worth millions.
The condolence message comes in the wake of one of the deadliest fire outbreaks in Lagos Island in recent years. On Tuesday, a blaze swept through Afriland Towers, a commercial complex on Broad Street that houses several corporate organizations, including the FIRS, United Capital, and a branch of the UBA.
Emergency officials confirmed that at least ten people lost their lives, while several others sustained injuries. Videos and photos of the inferno quickly went viral on social media, with early confusion suggesting that the fire had gutted UBA’s corporate headquarters at Marina before the bank clarified that only a Broad Street branch was affected.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, supported by the Federal Fire Service and other emergency responders, battled for hours to contain the inferno and rescue trapped occupants. Investigations later revealed that the fire began in the inverter room, with smoke spreading rapidly through the building, including the emergency exits.
The incident was the second major fire reported in the Lagos Island business district on the same day, further heightening public concern about safety standards in high-rise buildings across the state.
The First Lady’s intervention adds to the stream of condolences already issued by corporate bodies, government agencies, and civil society organizations, as calls grow for stricter enforcement of fire safety measures in commercial centers.
NAN
