Blaze at Afriland Towers Throws Lagos Island’s Marina District into Turmoil

Inferno at Afriland Towers Sparks Panic in Lagos Island’s Marina District

On the afternoon of Tuesday, September 16, 2025, the bustling Marina area of Lagos Island descended into chaos as a fire tore through Afriland Towers, a six-storey commercial high-rise located on Broad Street.

The building, which houses a branch of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) along with several other corporate offices, became the epicenter of a dramatic emergency response that gripped the city.

According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the blaze was first reported at 1:38 p.m. Fire crews from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu stations were swiftly dispatched to the scene. The fire originated in the inverter room located in the basement of the building, and thick smoke rapidly spread across multiple floors, engulfing the structure and triggering widespread panic among occupants and bystanders.

Videos shared on social media captured the terrifying moments as dense plumes of smoke billowed from the tower. In some clips, individuals were seen attempting to escape from upper floors, with ladders being used by onlookers to rescue trapped occupants. The front of the building was crowded with distressed workers and residents, many of whom were visibly shaken by the unfolding disaster.

Despite the intensity of the fire, emergency responders managed to contain the blaze and initiate a full evacuation. The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that nine people were rescued, five of whom were successfully resuscitated. Fortunately, no fatalities were reported, and many others escaped unhurt.

In the wake of the incident, UBA issued a statement clarifying that its head office, UBA House on Marina, was not affected by the fire, countering misinformation circulating online. The bank assured the public that all staff, customers, and visitors at the affected branch were safe and accounted for.

The Afriland Towers fire has reignited concerns about fire safety compliance in Lagos’s commercial buildings.

As investigations into the cause of the blaze continue, many are calling for stricter enforcement of safety regulations to prevent future tragedies in the city’s densely populated business districts.