By Our Reporter
Four officials of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) died on Tuesday when a fire occurred at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos.
The victims have been identified as Mrs. Ekelikhostse George, Assistant Director; Mr. David Sunday-Jatto, Assistant Director; Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe, Senior Manager; and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye, Manager.
The fire started in the high-rise during working hours and quickly spread to several floors, trapping some people inside. Witnesses saw smoke coming from the building and watched as many tried to escape.
Emergency responders said they are still investigating what caused the fire.
In a statement, the FIRS expressed deep sorrow at the deaths, noting that its Medium Tax Audit and Onikan Emerging Tax Office were located on the sixth and seventh floors of the tower. “We are in touch with the families of our departed colleagues whose dedication and professionalism were never in doubt. All necessary support will be provided at this trying time,” said Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS chairman.
Firefighters reportedly had trouble reaching the upper floors and did not have enough equipment to fight the flames. Residents around Broad Street said heavy traffic in Lagos slowed down the fire service, making it harder to rescue those trapped inside.
However, questions are already being raised about possible safety lapses within the building. Some tenants alleged that Afriland Towers lacked adequate fire alarms and escape routes, while others pointed to poor building maintenance and outdated wiring as potential hazards that may have worsened the incident.
Officials said this tragedy has triggered a call for a broader review of safety rules in Lagos high-rise office buildings. Many of these buildings are used by banks, government offices, and companies, but supposedly lack up-to-date fire prevention systems.
Currently, investigations are on-going to find out the cause of the fire, even as the families of the deceased mourn loved ones whose lives were lost in an avoidable circumstance.
With Additional Reports from Vanguard