A fire outbreak on Tuesday afternoon sent shockwaves through the bustling commercial hub of Broad Street, Lagos Island, after flames engulfed parts of Afriland Towers, a multi-storey complex that houses a branch of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and other corporate offices.
Footage from the scene, widely circulated on social media, showed thick black smoke pouring from the building’s upper floors, with visibly distressed individuals trying to escape through windows. In one alarming clip, unidentified persons appeared to jump from the high-rise as bystanders used ladders to rescue others trapped inside.
Large crowds gathered in front of the building, many in a panic, as the fire intensified before emergency services arrived.
Fire Originated From Basement Inverter Room — Fire Service
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, in an official statement signed by Deputy Controller General Ogabi Olajide, confirmed that fire crews were dispatched immediately after receiving a distress call at 1:38 PM.
“A fire outbreak is currently being battled at a six-storey building on Afriland Tower, Broad Street, Lagos Island. The call was received at 13:38 hours, and fire crews from Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu Fire Stations responded promptly,” the statement read.
The agency explained that the fire originated in the inverter room located in the basement, with smoke rapidly spreading across multiple floors of the structure.
Firefighters were able to contain the blaze and concluded suppression efforts after evacuating remaining occupants.
“Evacuation of occupants is in progress, while firefighting operations have been concluded, dousing the earlier panic before the arrival of the first responders,” it added.
UBA Clarifies Building Identity, Confirms No Casualties
In response to growing speculation online, United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc issued a statement confirming the incident but clarified that its head office UBA House, Marina was not affected.
“Contrary to reports online and on social media, the affected building is not UBA House, Marina, the Bank’s head office,” the bank stated. “We have ensured the safety and well-being of our staff and customers at the branch located in the impacted building.”
While the exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, UBA confirmed that emergency safety protocols were swiftly activated, and all relevant authorities were immediately notified.
Eyewitness accounts suggest several dramatic rescue efforts occurred before emergency responders arrived, with some occupants allegedly jumping from windows and others being assisted by members of the public using makeshift ladders.
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