A fire incident broke out at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island, on Tuesday afternoon, causing panic among workers and residents in the busy Marina area. The building, which houses a branch of the United Bank for Africa, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, and other offices, was quickly engulfed in thick smoke as seen in several videos shared online.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that they received the distress call around 1:38 p.m. and immediately deployed teams from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu fire stations to the scene. According to reports, the fire started in the inverter room located in the basement and spread smoke to other parts of the high-rise building.
Many occupants were evacuated as fire officials worked to contain the situation. Eyewitnesses said some people attempted to escape through windows, while a few others jumped from upper floors in fear. This created more panic around the area as passersby gathered to watch the incident unfold.
The United Bank for Africa later released a statement to clear the air, explaining that its Marina head office, known as UBA House, was not affected by the fire. The bank confirmed that the incident only involved its Broad Street branch located in Afriland Towers and assured customers that safety measures had been taken for both staff and clients.
At the time of writing, no deaths have been confirmed, but reports say that some people sustained injuries and were rushed to the hospital for treatment. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service is still investigating the full cause of the fire, while authorities continue to monitor the situation closely.
This incident once again raises questions about safety standards in high-rise buildings across Lagos, especially in the commercial areas where thousands of people work daily. Residents and workers are calling for stronger fire safety enforcement and improved emergency response systems to prevent such occurrences in the future.