… UBA mgt. confirms staff, customers safe, minor injuries reported

Ibukunoluwa Osigunwa

A fire engulfed the six-storey Afriland Tower on Broad Street, Lagos Island, which houses a UBA branch, on Tuesday, after an electrical inverter in the building’s basement reportedly triggered the blaze.

Preliminary investigations indicated that the fire on the inverter ignited shortly after the electricity supply was restored to the building.

The United Bank for Africa (UBA) has confirmed that it is aware of Tuesday’s fire incident at the Afriland Tower on Broad Street, Lagos Island, which houses one of its branches.

The bank clarified that, contrary to online reports, the affected building was not the UBA House in Marina, its head office.

It added that the safety of staff and customers had been secured, noting that while no fatalities were recorded, a few minor injuries were reported.

Ogabi Olajide, Deputy Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, providing further details, said the fire originated from the inverter room in the basement of the six-storey building, with smoke spreading across several floors.

He explained that fire crews from Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu stations responded promptly after receiving the emergency call at 13:38 hours, successfully evacuating occupants and containing the blaze.

Hon. Taiwo Oyekan, Executive Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government, led local government engineers, medical personnel, and sanitation workers to the scene to support the rescue and recovery efforts.

As at the period of filling this report, Advisors Reports correspondent confirmed emergency response teams remain on the ground, providing rescue support, first aid, and medical treatment to affected persons.

Witnesses said some staff were forced to jump from the third floor to escape the fire, with a few collapsing from shock and exhaustion during the evacuation.