By The Nation,Zainab Olufemi
Copyright thenationonlineng
Chairman of Heirs Holdings and United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu, has confirmed that some employees of Heirs Holdings were among those who died in Tuesday’s fire outbreak at Afriland Towers, Lagos Island.
The six-storey building on Broad Street also houses a UBA branch and offices of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS).
In a statement to staff dated Wednesday, September 17, Elumelu described the incident as devastating, noting that no words could capture the grief of the families, friends, and colleagues of the deceased.
“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… Yesterday was a stark reminder of what truly matters: our irreplaceable people,” he wrote.
Elumelu disclosed that he cut short his trip to the United States, where he was scheduled to attend the United Nations General Assembly, to return to Lagos in honour of the victims. He directed all Heirs Holdings companies to observe a minute of silence on Wednesday, pledged support to the affected families, and announced plans for a memorial service in the coming days.
He also commended emergency responders, first aid workers, and members of the public for their courage during the incident.
Meanwhile, the FIRS confirmed the death of four of its staff in the fire. In a statement by Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS Chairman, the victims were identified as Mrs. Ekelikhostse George (Assistant Director), Mr. David Sunday-Jatto (Assistant Director), Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe (Senior Manager), and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye (Manager).
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They were said to be working at the FIRS offices on the sixth and seventh floors of the building when tragedy struck.
“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, Broad Street, Lagos, on Tuesday. Our Security and Safety officials quickly mobilised and contacted the fire service as soon as they were alerted. On getting to the scene, thick dark smoke was already billowing out of the building,” the statement read.
The management expressed shock and sorrow over the development and pledged support to the families of the deceased. It also ensured that safety measures would be reviewed across all FIRS offices nationwide.
According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS), the fire started from the inverter room in the basement of the building. Deputy Controller General, Ogabi Olajide, said the emergency call was received at 1:38 p.m., prompting the deployment of fire teams from Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu stations.
Smoke spread rapidly across several floors, forcing evacuations. Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as workers and visitors scrambled to escape.
The LSFRS confirmed that nine persons were rescued, with five successfully resuscitated, while others escaped unhurt. Efforts were ongoing to revive four other individuals and assess the extent of the damage.
