Afriland Towers Fire: FFS Commiserates With Victims, Launches Task Force On Building Safety

The Federal Fire Service (FFS) has expressed heavy sorrow implicit the tragic occurrence that engulfed Afriland Towers connected Broad Street, Lagos Island, connected September 16, 2025, claiming aggregate lives, including unit of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and others.

In a connection connected Thursday, Controller General of the FFS, Samuel Adeyemi Olumode, commiserated with the affected institutions and families of the victims.

“On behalf of the Service, I widen heartfelt condolences to the Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Dr. Zacch Adelabu Adedeji, the Chairman of the United Bank for Africa (UBA), Mr. Tony Elumelu, the absorption and unit of some organizations, arsenic good arsenic the families of each those who mislaid their lives successful this tragedy. We commune for the repose of the departed and comfortableness for their loved ones,” Adeyemi said.

The Controller General disclosed that preliminary reports suggested the occurrence originated from the building’s inverter room. He has ordered the contiguous deployment of an FFS probe squad to find some the nonstop and distant causes of the incident.

According to him, the probe volition screen “the authorities of information systems, attraction practices, and compliance with occurrence information regulations.” He assured that the findings would beryllium made public, with recommendations implemented without delay.

In what helium described arsenic a decisive measurement to forestall aboriginal tragedies, Adeyemi announced the instauration of a nationwide Task Force connected Fire Safety Compliance. The task unit volition audit nationalist and backstage buildings, enforce information standards, authorisation violators, and supply grooming for installation managers and staff, portion strengthening inter-agency collaboration.

“It is not capable to instal occurrence information equipment; it is indispensable to support it, guarantee functionality, and bid staff. Under my leadership, the Federal Fire Service volition determination beyond reactive firefighting to proactive prevention, audits, sanctions, and nationalist accountability,” helium stated.

The Controller General urged firm bodies, banks, authorities agencies, and installation managers to urgently reappraisal their occurrence information readiness, stressing the value of unafraid inverter and generator rooms, unblocked exit pathways, functional alarms, and trained personnel.

He besides appealed to the nationalist to observe information protocols, study non-compliance, and cooperate with occurrence work inspections.

Adeyemi further commended the Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his relation successful facilitating the enactment of the Federal Fire and Rescue Act, which helium said would usher successful “a caller authorities and civilization of occurrence prevention and accountability crossed Nigeria.”

LEADERSHIP reports that the Afriland Towers fire, which broke retired astir 1:30 p.m. connected Tuesday, near astatine slightest 10 radical confirmed dead, including six unit of United Capital Plc and 4 employees of FIRS. Several others were rescued by exigency responders.