Two FIRS Assistant Directors, Two Managers Die in Lagos Fire

The Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has lamented the tragic nonaccomplishment of 4 of its employees  successful the devastating occurrence that broke retired astatine Afriland Towers successful Lagos connected Tuesday.

FIRS said the deceased unit were moving astatine 1 of the 2 FIRS offices housed connected the sixth and seventh floors of the towers erstwhile the calamity struck.

The occurrence claimed the lives of Ekelikhostse George, an adjunct director; David Sunday-Jatto, an adjunct director; Nkem Onyemelukwe, elder manager; and Peter Ifaranmaye, manager, each of whom served diligently astatine the FIRS offices located connected the sixth and seventh floors of the building.

Also, expressing his profound grief implicit the incident, president of Afriland Properties Plc and United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu, chopped abbreviated his travel to the United Nations General Assembly successful New York to instrumentality to Lagos. He described the incidental arsenic “a devastating loss,” saying the Afriland household had been thrown into mourning.

The peculiar advisor connected media to the FIRS chairman, Dare Adekanmbi, successful an authoritative statement, described the incidental arsenic a dense stroke to the service, which has since entered a play of mourning and reflection. “It is with a dense bosom that we denote the tragic nonaccomplishment of 4 of our colleagues during the occurrence incidental astatine Afriland Towers. Their committedness to excellence, dedication, and professionalism were ne'er successful doubt, and they volition beryllium sorely missed,” the connection read.

“It is with a dense bosom that FIRS announces the tragic nonaccomplishment of 4 of its unit members during the occurrence incidental astatine Afriland Towers successful Lagos, connected Tuesday.

“FIRS is 1 of the tenants occupying the Towers, with our Medium Tax Audit and Onikan Emerging Tax Office housed connected the sixth and seventh floors.

“Our Security and Safety officials rapidly mobilised and contacted the occurrence work arsenic soon arsenic they were alerted. On getting to the scene, heavy acheronian fume was already billowing retired of the building.

“The Management and full unit are successful heavy daze and sorrow implicit the development. They connection their condolences to the grieving families and are successful interaction with the families of our departed colleagues whose committedness to excellence, dedication and professionalism were ne'er successful doubt. We volition supply each the indispensable enactment astatine this trying time.

“We are moving successful collaboration with each applicable agencies successful Lagos to get to the basal origin of the unfortunate incident. While this is going on, we volition beryllium reviewing information measures crossed FIRS offices successful some rented and owned buildings nationwide,” the connection said.

Meanwhile, Afriland Properties Plc chairman, Tony Elumelu, said,  “I americium shattered by the devastating incidental astatine Afriland Towers that took the lives of our beloved colleagues. No words tin seizure the magnitude of this loss—not for their families who loved them, not for the friends who valued them, and not for those of america who worked beside them,” Elumelu said.

He described the occurrence incidental arsenic a infinitesimal to rally astir the bereaved families with compassion, care, and solidarity. “Afriland Properties stands firmly by the families of the deceased and volition widen each imaginable enactment to them during this hard time,” Elumelu assured. He besides commended the bravery and speedy enactment of exigency responders, archetypal assistance workers, and members of the public, whose courageousness helped negociate the situation amid the tragedy.

The billionaire businessman disclosed that helium was already en way to New York for the UNGA erstwhile helium received the news, which forced him to crook backmost to Lagos instantly successful honour of the departed.

According to him, beyond grief, the absorption should present beryllium compassion, attraction and solidarity with those straight affected. He assured that Afriland Properties would basal firmly by the families of the deceased and widen afloat enactment successful their hard moment.

“As we navigate this grief, I impulse you each to scope retired to those who are receiving care. In the coming days, we volition convene colleagues successful a memorial to honour the memories of the departed, arsenic we supply enactment to their families,” helium said.

Elumelu besides commended exigency responders, archetypal assistance workers and members of the nationalist whose swift actions, helium noted, showed courageousness and compassion successful the look of tragedy.

He announced that each companies nether his group, including UBA, would observe a one-minute soundlessness astatine 12 noon successful representation of the victims.