Lagos State governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has sympathised with families, organisations and Lagosians who lost relatives and goods in Tuesday’s fire outbreak at Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island.
The governor’s sympathy was also extended to traders at Central Plaza, near Mandilas Market, who lost assets in another fire that occurred at their market.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his special adviser on media and publicity, Gboyega Akosile, Sanwo-Olu commiserated with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and United Capital Plc, which lost four and six staff members respectively in the Afriland Towers incident.
He said, “The fire incident at Afriland Towers in Broad Street was worrisome and a significant loss to Lagos State Government, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), United Capital PLC and other companies and individuals, with property worth millions of Naira destroyed.
“It is with a heavy heart that I received news of the fire outbreak. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and the management and staff of all the organisations that lost their loved ones in the ugly incident. I wish the injured persons a speedy recovery.”
Sanwo-Olu pledged the government’s continued support to prevent and address similar incidents.
He also commended the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Federal Fire Service and other first responders for their intervention in containing the Afriland Towers fire and reducing casualties.
The fire at Afriland Towers, a six-storey commercial property managed by Afriland Properties Plc, broke out on Tuesday afternoon.
The company said it started in the inverter room before smoke spread to multiple floors.
United Capital confirmed on Thursday that six of its staff died in the incident, while FIRS said four of its employees also lost their lives.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reported that nine people were rescued, with five resuscitated and efforts continuing to revive four others.
