Afriland Properties Plc has confirmed a fire incident at its headquarters, Afriland Towers, located on Broad Street, Lagos Island, Lagos.
This was contained in a statement titled, “Statement on Fire Incident at Afriland Towers, Lagos Island”, signed by the Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Afriland Properties, Chukwunonso Okafor, dated September 16, 2025 and obtained by PUNCH Online on Wednesday.
The company’s confirmation comes on the heels of confusion that trailed the incident, as viral reports initially claimed that the headquarters of the United Bank for Africa had been gutted by fire.
Videos and photos shared widely on social media had wrongly suggested that the bank’s corporate head office at Marina was affected.
UBA later clarified that the fire broke out at a building on Broad Street housing one of its branches, not its Marina head office. In a statement, the bank assured that the safety and well-being of its staff and customers at the branch had been secured.
Setting the record straight, the management of Afriland explained that emergency responders arrived promptly at the scene to contain the fire.
“Afriland Properties Plc regrets to inform that a fire incident occurred today (Tuesday) at Afriland Towers, our headquarters, located on Broad Street, Lagos Island, Lagos.
“From the moment the incident was reported, the Federal Fire Service, Lagos State Fire Service and other emergency services were promptly alerted and on the scene to contain the fire and coordinate rescue efforts.
“Their swift intervention was instrumental in mitigating further damage and managing the situation,” the statement partly read.
Expressing sympathy for those affected, Afriland said: “We are deeply saddened by this incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with all those impacted, and we extend our heartfelt sympathies to their families and loved ones.”
On the likely cause of the incident, the firm explained: “While an immediate investigation has commenced, initial reports indicate that the incident began in the inverter room, and, regrettably, smoke spread quickly through the building, including the emergency exits, even as standard safety protocols were being observed during the evacuation.”
The company further assured that it was cooperating with regulators. “Afriland Properties Plc is working closely with the relevant authorities even as more information emerges. We sincerely appreciate the heroic efforts of the emergency responders, first aid workers, and members of the public who assisted with the incident today.”
Promising more updates, it added: “Afriland Properties Plc will continue to provide timely updates as verified information becomes available.”
PUNCH Online reports that the incident, which occurred in one of Lagos Island’s busiest business districts, drew significant attention from passersby and neighbouring organisations, given the strategic location of Afriland Towers. Broad Street is home to several commercial banks, insurance firms, and corporate headquarters, making it a hub for economic activity in Lagos.
Although the cause of the fire is still under investigation, emergency services managed to contain the situation, preventing further spread to nearby buildings. No official casualty figures had been released as of press time, but eyewitnesses said several people were safely evacuated from the high-rise.
The fire outbreak adds to growing concerns over safety standards in Lagos’ high-density commercial centres, where incidents of electrical faults, generator malfunctions, and inverter-related accidents have been cited as recurring risks.
Regulators and property developers have in recent years intensified calls for stricter enforcement of building safety codes, particularly for older high-rise structures in the metropolis.
