The Federal Fire Service has announced that it will begin a nationwide fire safety inspection after the terrible fire that happened on Tuesday at Afriland Tower in Lagos Island.
Sadly, more people have now been confirmed dead as a result of the fire. At least six additional lives were lost, making the tragedy even worse. These victims were workers of United Capital, a financial and investment company that occupied the 3rd and 4th floors of the six-storey building. This sad news came just hours after another announcement revealed that four staff members of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) also died in the same incident.
According to reports, the fire started at about 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday. It was said to have begun in the inverter room located in the basement of the tower before spreading rapidly.
On Thursday, the spokesman of the Fire Service, Paul Abraham, released a statement. He explained that the Controller General of the Fire Service, Samuel Olumode, has ordered a full compliance audit across Nigeria. This audit will look at both government-owned and private buildings. The purpose is to check how prepared they are for fire emergencies, make sure they follow proper fire safety rules, and punish those who fail to meet the standards.
The statement also expressed deep sympathy. On behalf of the Service, the Controller General sent condolences to Dr. Zacc Adelabu Adedeji, the Chairman of FIRS, to Mr. Tony Elumelu, the Chairman of UBA Group, as well as to the families of all who died in the tragedy. He prayed for comfort for their loved ones and for the souls of the departed.
To prevent such disasters in the future, the Controller General said that the Fire Service will set up a nationwide Task Force on Fire Safety Compliance. This team will:
- Inspect buildings across the country.
- Enforce safety standards.
- Penalize those who refuse to comply.
- Provide training for facility managers and workers.
- Work closely with other regulatory bodies to ensure safety is taken seriously.
In addition, Olumode has directed investigators to carefully look into the cause of the fire. They have been asked to study maintenance records, test the safety systems of the building, and check whether fire safety regulations were followed at Afriland Tower. The investigation will especially focus on the inverter room, since early reports suggest that the fire began there. Once the findings are ready, the Fire Service promises to make them public and act quickly on all recommendations.
The Fire Service also gave advice to all building owners, companies, banks, and government agencies. They are urged to:
- Review and improve their fire safety plans.
- Keep inverter and generator rooms safe and secure.
- Make sure all exit doors and pathways are clear.
- Ensure fire alarms and other safety equipment are working.
- Train their staff on what to do in case of an emergency.
The Service further encouraged members of the public to follow safety guidelines, report unsafe practices, and cooperate with fire service inspections when they happen.
Finally, Olumode praised the Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for supporting the Federal Fire and Rescue Act. This new law is expected to bring major improvements to fire prevention, building inspections, and accountability across the country.
