Follow Us on Google
The recent fire incident at the Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos, which claimed 10 lives and destroyed goods and assets worth billions of naira, has underscored the urgent need for enhanced fire safety measures in public buildings across the country. It also calls for new strategies to combat the devastating perennial menace. The fire affected the offices of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), United Bank for Africa (UBA) and United Capital Plc, as well as the Emab Plaza in the Mandilas area.
The tragic incident has called for a review of our fire safety protocols, especially in highly congested urban settings and our response preparedness in fire incidents. According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, out of the 10 persons that died from the inferno, FIRS lost four of its workers, while United Capital Plc lost six.
The fire in Afriland Towers reportedly started from the inverter room located in the basement of the building. It later caused smoke, which spread quickly across the multiple floors of the building and trapped the people. Similarly, the Mandilas fire started at the plaza before spreading to four other shops and setting goods ablaze. The Special Adviser on Central Business District (CBD), Bola Olumegbon-Lawal, blamed the incident on generators kept on the upper floors of the building.
Like other states in the country, Lagos State has also witnessed recurring fire incidents in recent times with varying fatalities. Regrettably, Kano, Onitsha, Ibadan and other major cities across the country have recorded many fire incidents despite measures put in place to address them. Available statistics indicate that Lagos State has responded to more than 13,700 emergencies between 2008 and 2025. Out of the figure, 2,400 were fire incidents. The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed this while speaking on the forthcoming State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) conference in partnership with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
We sympathise with organisations and families that lost their workers and loved ones in the unfortunate fire incident. We also sympathise with the traders and others who lost goods and valuable assets in the inferno. However, the officials of the Lagos State Fire Service should be commended for their efforts in preventing the inferno from spreading to other buildings within the vicinity.
Nevertheless, we call on the Lagos State government to holistically review its fire safety protocols in public buildings and markets. There is also the need to review our fire-fighting measures in line with global standards. On the other hand, our response time to emergencies, including fire disasters, should be improved. We need modern equipment and even helicopters to fight fire in an environment with high-rise buildings. Using fire-fighting trucks with ladders to contain such fires is no longer feasible.
Therefore, corporate organisations should begin to invest in fire safety equipment such as smoke alarms and sprinkler systems. They should regularly inspect and service all their fire safety equipment, including fire alarms, extinguishers, and emergency lighting to ensure that they are working optimally. It has become necessary that all public buildings should be equipped with smoke detectors, fire alarm systems and fire extinguishers. They should also have documented safety procedures, regular drills and standard fire evacuation plans.
Moving forward, all buildings should have unobstructed emergency exits and fire escapes to allow for quick and safe evacuation. At the same time, all buildings and fire safety systems must comply with Nigerian building codes and relevant international standards. Considering the recurring fire incidents in the country, there should be routine fire risk assessments and maintenance by professionals to identify vulnerabilities and ensure compliance and functionality of fire safety measures. Other measures to enhance fire safety in the country include strengthening policy and infrastructure, enhancing public awareness and education and promoting regular inspection and drills. There is need for public awareness campaigns and fire safety education for homes and work places.
The Lagos State government should institute an independent panel of inquiry to investigate the Lagos fire incident. The panel should unravel the immediate and remote causes of the inferno and make far-reaching recommendations to enhance fire safety. We believe that their recommendations will tremendously improve our fire-fighting strategies and enhance evacuation plans in such emergencies.
