September 19, 2025
The Lagos state government, has released its preliminary findings on the Tuesday fire incident at Afriland Tower at the Broad Street part of Lagos Island.
Speaking at a joint press briefing on Thursday, at the Bagauda Kaltho press centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos state the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, revealed that the fire started in the basement of the high-rise building where emergency backup batteries were stored.
Also present at the press conference were the Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso; Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile; Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye; Director of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Dr Wuraola Makinde; and Director of Operations of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Olatunde Akinsanya.
Mojola explained that the smoke spread quickly through the air-conditioning ducts, causing panic among occupants and escalating the incident, adding that the victims died of inhalation of smoke.
While pointing out that first responders arrived promptly at the venue of the fire incident, he reiterated the government’s proactive approach, stating that more than 200 high-rise buildings across Lagos had already undergone fire safety certification in 2025.
Mojisola, urged property owners and facility managers to cooperate with regulatory agencies by registering their premises for routine safety inspections.
READ MORE; More Deaths Confirmed From Tuesday’s Afriland Towers Fire Incident.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, who expressed the government’s condolences to those who lost their loved ones in the incident, said the state government has launched a probe into the fire incidents at Afriland Towers and Central Plaza on Lagos Island.
The government confirmed that there were fatalities that occurred due to inhalation of smoke and not from fire injuries, debunking insinuations that the Fire Service did not do enough to stop the blaze.
He said the government, which commissioned 62 fire trucks in one day last year, would not relent in putting in place modalities to ensure emergency responders carry out their duty promptly, efficiently, and effectively.
He maintained that the government was commitment to the protection of lives and property, stressing that the safety of lives is an important aspect of governance in Lagos, and the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration will continue to invest in safety infrastructure.
READ MORE; Buildings, Cars Razed In Otedola Bridge Tanker Explosion
For her part, the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, said her team arrived at the scene in less than 20 minutes after receiving a distress call. She said firefighters successfully curtailed the spread of the flames and rescued several trapped victims, despite operational challenges posed by crowd interference and traffic congestion.
She also confirmed that the Afriland Towers fire started from the basement of the building, where inverter batteries were kept, and spread to the other parts of the building
The Director of the Lagos State Ambulance Service, Dr Wuraola Makinde, disclosed that emergency medical personnel were immediately deployed, and many smoke inhalation patients received prompt treatment.
She said no victim died of fire injuries, but due to inhalation of smoke, adding that those who sustained injuries were taken to the General Hospital in Lagos and treated for free.
Three of them, she said, had been discharged.
