A fire outbreak at Afriland Towers, located on Broad Street, Lagos Island, has caused significant concern, though initial reports misidentified the building as the headquarters of the United Bank for Africa (UBA). Afriland Properties Plc has confirmed that the fire occurred at its headquarters and not at UBA’s Marina office as was widely circulated on social media.
In an official statement released on September 16, 2025, Afriland Properties Plc clarified the situation, refuting the mistaken claims that the UBA corporate office had been affected. “While reports initially suggested that UBA’s head office was the site of the fire, this was not the case,” said Chukwunonso Okafor, the Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications at Afriland Properties. “The fire was confined to Afriland Towers, and UBA has assured that none of its staff or customers at the nearby branch were harmed.”
The fire broke out in the building’s inverter room and rapidly spread through the structure, including the emergency exits. The swift intervention of the Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Fire Service, and other emergency responders prevented the fire from spreading further. According to Afriland Properties, these efforts were instrumental in limiting the damage and ensuring the safety of the occupants.
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In their statement, Afriland expressed sympathy for those affected by the incident, saying, “We are deeply saddened by this event, and our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted.” They assured the public that a full investigation was underway, with initial reports pointing to a fault in the inverter room as the likely cause. “We are working closely with the relevant authorities to gather more information,” Afriland stated.
The incident occurred in one of Lagos Island’s busiest business districts, drawing attention from nearby businesses and passersby. The area, home to several commercial banks, insurance firms, and corporate headquarters, is a hub for economic activity in Lagos. Despite the widespread concern, no casualties have been officially confirmed, though eyewitnesses reported that several people were evacuated safely.
As authorities continue their investigation, the fire outbreak has reignited discussions about safety standards in high-rise buildings across Lagos. Experts have long raised concerns about electrical faults, generator malfunctions, and inverter-related incidents, which have posed recurring risks in the city’s high-density commercial centres.
This fire has also raised questions about the adequacy of safety regulations in older buildings. In recent years, there have been calls for stricter enforcement of building codes to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future. Property developers, as well as regulators, have emphasised the importance of maintaining safety standards, particularly for high-rise structures.
The management of Afriland Properties has promised to provide regular updates as more information becomes available. “We will continue to keep the public informed as our investigation progresses,” the company assured.
