Francesca Odimgbe
The Lagos State Government has launched a probe into Tuesday’s fire at Afriland Towers and Central Plaza on Lagos Island.
There were fatalities, which occurred due to inhalation of smoke and not from fire injuries, the government said, debunking insinuations that the Fire Service did not do enough to stop the blaze.
The government condoled with those who lost their loved ones in the incident.
The government spoke on Thursday at a joint press conference at Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, by Lagos State Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso; Special Adviser to the Governor on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile; Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Mr. Lanre Mojola; Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs. Margaret Adeseye; Director of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Dr Wuraola Makinde and Director of Operations of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Olatunde Akinsanya.
Omotoso, who said Governor Babajide Sanwo- Olu ordered the probe, following misinformation about the fires, urged people to shun rumors about the sad incidents. He said the Government, which commissioned 62 fire trucks in one day last year, would not relent in putting in place modalities to ensure emergency responders carry out their duty promptly, efficiently and effectively.
He reaffirmed the government’s unwavering commitment to the protection of lives and property, stressing that the safety of lives is an important aspect of governance in Lagos and the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration will continue to invest in safety infrastructure.
The Commissioner said the state has, among other facilities, a ladder that “can reach more than 10 floors of a tall building”.
Omotoso, on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the “ugly” incidents as “unfortunate” and extended condolences to families and businesses affected by the fires.
Providing technical details about the Afriland incident, the Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Lanre Mojola, explained that preliminary findings revealed the fire originated in the building’s basement, where emergency backup batteries were stored.
He said the smoke spread quickly through the air-conditioning ducts, causing panic among occupants and escalating the incident.
Mojola, who noted that first responders arrived promptly at the venue of the incident, said the victims died of inhalation of smoke.
Reiterating the government’s proactive approach, Mojola said more than 200 high-rise buildings across Lagos had already undergone fire safety certification in 2025. He urged property owners and facility managers to cooperate with regulatory agencies by registering their premises for routine safety inspections.
Also speaking, the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, said her team arrived at the scene in less than 20 minutes after receiving a distress call. She said firefighters successfully curtailed the spread of the flames and rescued several trapped victims, despite operational challenges posed by crowd interference and traffic congestion.
She also said the Afriland Towers fire started from the basement of the building, where inverter batteries were kept, and spread to the other parts of the building.
The Director of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Dr Wuraola Makinde, disclosed that emergency medical personnel were immediately deployed and many smoke inhalation patients received prompt treatment.
She said no victim died of fire injuries, but due to inhalation of smoke, adding that those who sustained injuries were taken to the General Hospital in Lagos and treated for free. Three of them, she said, had been discharged and reunited with their families.