How Afriland Towers Fire Sent UBA Staff and Shoppers Scrambling for Safety
How Afriland Towers Fire Sent UBA Staff and Shoppers Scrambling for Safety
Panic gripped Lagos Island on Tuesday afternoon when a fire broke out at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, forcing workers and visitors—including staff of a United Bank for Africa (UBA) branch—to scramble for safety.
The blaze, which started around 1:38 p.m. in the building’s basement inverter room, quickly spread thick smoke through stairwells and upper floors of the six-storey complex. Eyewitnesses said alarms went off as people rushed to escape, with videos later circulating online showing dramatic scenes of workers climbing out of windows and down ladders provided by bystanders.
One eyewitness described the chaos: “It was like a movie—people were shouting, others jumping out to survive. Everyone was scared.”
Rescue operations were swiftly led by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, with support from the Federal Fire Service. Officials confirmed at least 11 people were evacuated and treated for smoke inhalation, but no fatalities were recorded. Emergency responders resuscitated some victims on the spot before taking them for medical attention.
UBA later clarified that the affected branch was not its Marina headquarters, easing earlier fears sparked by online speculation.
Traffic around Broad Street came to a standstill as crowds gathered to watch the rescue, while firefighters battled the flames until the evening. The building sustained damage but was saved from total destruction.
Authorities have linked the fire’s origin to the inverter system in the basement, though the exact cause remains under investigation. Officials have since renewed calls for stricter fire safety compliance in Lagos high-rises, especially regarding electrical installations.
The incident came just hours before another fire hit Emab Plaza behind Mandilas Market, also on Lagos Island. That blaze destroyed shops but, like Afriland Towers, claimed no lives—highlighting the city’s vulnerability to frequent fire outbreaks.
