Tragedy struck on Tuesday afternoon when a massive fire engulfed Afriland Tower, a seven-storey glass building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, claiming at least 10 lives and leaving several others hospitalized.
The skyscraper, which houses the offices of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), and United Capital Plc, among others, was turned into a death trap as workers scrambled for safety.
According to The Punch report of September 20, 2025, the fire started around 1 p.m. in the basement inverter room. What began as a minor disruption quickly escalated into chaos as thick smoke filled the building, cutting off visibility and triggering a stampede.
One of the survivors, Adewale, an office worker on the fifth floor, recounted his harrowing escape while receiving treatment for smoke inhalation at Avon Medical Hospital, Surulere.
“It was just like any other workday until the lights went out. Usually, the outage lasts only a few minutes, but after 20 minutes, nothing came back. People grew anxious, and then smoke began to spread,” he said.
In a desperate attempt to survive, Adewale dipped his tie in water and used it as a makeshift mask. “Visibility dropped to almost nothing. I just followed someone through the smoke, and by God’s grace, I made it out,” he added.
Another survivor, identified as Kachi, was among those who struggled for breath as they fought their way to safety.
Adewale suggested that most victims may have died near the basement entrance, where the blaze originated. “The people who died were those who passed through the basement. The fire started in the inverter room close to the entry, and that was why some people could not come out,” he explained.
As of press time, emergency services had yet to release an official statement on the cause of the fire or the full extent of casualties. Firefighters and first responders were seen battling the blaze for hours, while rescue teams ferried the injured to nearby hospitals.
