Panic gripped Broad Street, Lagos Island, on Tuesday afternoon as a raging fire tore through the six-storey Afriland Tower, forcing occupants to flee for safety while emergency responders battled to contain the blaze.
According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the fire, which broke out around 1:38 p.m., was traced to the inverter room in the building’s basement. Within minutes, thick plumes of smoke surged through several floors, sparking chaos as workers and visitors scrambled out of the high-rise.
Swift intervention came from fire crews deployed from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu fire stations, who arrived promptly to curtail what could have escalated into a major disaster.
In an official statement, Deputy Controller General of the agency, Ogabi Olajide, confirmed that firefighting operations had been successfully concluded.
> “Evacuation of occupants is ongoing, while our teams have extinguished the fire, easing the panic that swept the building before the arrival of first responders,” he stated.
Although no casualties have been reported at press time, officials revealed that the intense smoke engulfed multiple floors, leaving the structure shrouded in haze and sending shivers through Lagos’ bustling commercial hub.
The incident has once again raised concerns about fire safety compliance in high-rise buildings across Lagos Island, where thousands of workers conduct business daily.
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