The Chairman of United Bank for Africa, UBA Plc, Tony Elumelu, has expressed deep grief over the death of six colleagues in the tragic fire incident that engulfed Afriland Towers on Victoria Island, Lagos, on Tuesday.
The billionaire banker and philanthropist described the incident as a devastating reminder of the fragility of life, cutting short his trip to the United States, where he was scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly, to return home in solidarity with the victims and their families.
Elumelu, who is also the founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation and Chairman of Heirs Holdings, issued a heartfelt statement on Wednesday, mourning the loss and calling for unity and compassion in the wake of the tragedy. He disclosed that a minute’s silence was observed across all group companies at 12 noon to honour the deceased.
In his statement, Elumelu said he was “shattered” by the devastating fire that claimed the lives of staff members and disrupted businesses within the multi-purpose building that houses subsidiaries of Heirs Holdings, Afriland Properties Plc, and a branch of UBA Plc.
“I am shattered by yesterday’s devastating 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,” he wrote.
Elumelu stressed that the tragedy underscored the importance of valuing people over structures or ambitions. “Yesterday was a stark reminder of what truly matters: our irreplaceable people, those who walk through our doors each day and share our mission,” he added.
The UBA chairman revealed that he was en route to New York for the UNGA when he received news of the fire outbreak. In response, he immediately terminated his journey and turned back to Lagos as a mark of respect and solidarity.
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“I have cut short my trip to return to Lagos as a mark of respect to our lost colleagues,” he said. “As we navigate this grief, I urge you all to reach out to those who are receiving care. In the coming days, we will convene colleagues in a memorial to honour the memories of the departed, as we provide support to their families.”
Elumelu confirmed that beyond the minute of silence, the Group would roll out structured support measures for the bereaved families and injured survivors. He expressed gratitude to emergency responders, first aid workers, and members of the public who displayed bravery and compassion during the crisis.
“I also want to thank all those who supported in one way or the other, from emergency responders and first aid workers to members of the public who showed courage and compassion,” he stated.
The businessman prayed that such a tragedy would never befall the Group again. “May this never happen again in our Group. May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace,” he added solemnly.
The fire incident, which broke out on Tuesday, shook Lagos’ commercial hub, as Afriland Towers is a landmark business complex housing multiple corporate tenants. Among its occupants are subsidiaries of Heirs Holdings, Afriland Properties Plc, UBA Plc, and even government agencies such as the Federal Inland Revenue Service.
While the cause of the fire has not yet been confirmed, eyewitnesses reported chaos as smoke engulfed the building, prompting emergency evacuations. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and other emergency agencies responded swiftly to contain the blaze, but not before lives were lost.
The tragedy has drawn widespread condolences from business leaders, government officials, and civil society, who described it as a dark moment for the corporate community in Lagos and Nigeria at large.
The Eagle Online
