Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has commiserated with families, businesses, and institutions affected by the devastating fire that razed Afriland Towers, a six-storey commercial complex on Broad Street, Lagos Island, earlier this week.
The inferno, which broke out on Tuesday, claimed several lives and destroyed valuable property. Among the casualties were four officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and six employees of United Capital Plc, a financial and investment services firm.
Describing the incident as “shocking and deeply saddening,” Sanwo-Olu said the tragedy had left families and organisations in grief. In a statement issued on Thursday by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, the governor expressed the government’s sympathy and solidarity with all those directly impacted.
“It is with a heavy heart that I received the news of the fire outbreak. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, the management, and staff of all organisations that lost their loved ones. I also wish those injured a quick recovery,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The governor also extended his condolences to traders at the nearby Central Plaza, close to Mandilas Market, who lost goods worth millions of naira in the blaze. He pledged government assistance to ease their losses while stressing that his administration is committed to strengthening fire safety and disaster prevention protocols across the state.
Sanwo-Olu commended the efforts of first responders, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), the Federal Fire Service, and other agencies for their quick intervention, which prevented further casualties.
Reiterating his administration’s resolve, the governor assured Lagos residents that the state government will intensify collaboration with relevant agencies to enhance emergency preparedness, enforce safety regulations, and mitigate future disasters.
The Afriland Towers fire is the latest in a series of fire outbreaks that have struck Lagos in recent months, heightening concerns over urban safety and underscoring the urgent need for proactive fire prevention strategies.
