UBA Bank Gets Raided With Fire, No Fatal Casualty Recorded
A devastating fire tore through the Afriland Tower, a six-storey commercial building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, housing a United Bank for Africa (UBA) branch, the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) office, and other businesses, on Tuesday, September 16.
The blaze, which erupted around 1:38 PM, originated in the basement inverter room and rapidly spread to upper floors, engulfing parts of the structure in thick black smoke and flames. The incident triggered a chaotic evacuation, with staff and occupants leaping from windows and balconies—some from as high as three floors—in a desperate bid for safety. Despite the severity of the fire, which caused property damage estimated in the millions of Naira, no fatalities were recorded, a testament to the swift response of emergency services and local heroes.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, with units from Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu, mobilized quickly to contain the blaze, fully extinguishing it by late afternoon. Deputy Controller General Olajide Ogabi confirmed that 11 individuals were safely evacuated into ambulances, with medical teams attending to minor injuries sustained during the panic. Earlier reports noted nine casualties rescued, five of whom were successfully resuscitated, while efforts continued for the remaining four. Unconfirmed accounts of people briefly trapped in an elevator surfaced, but all were freed. A local resident, dubbed the “man in white” on social media, emerged as a hero, using ladders to assist those hesitant to jump, particularly those with a fear of heights, before professional rescuers took over.
UBA issued a statement clarifying that the affected branch was not its head office at UBA House, Marina, as initially misreported on social media. The bank emphasized that all staff, customers, and visitors were safely evacuated due to robust precautionary measures. “We are grateful for the swift intervention of emergency services and the bravery of individuals who ensured no lives were lost,” the statement read, directing inquiries to cfc@ubagroup.com or 0700 225 5822. The fire disrupted operations in the bustling Lagos Island business district, with traffic snarls lingering into the evening. A separate minor fire in the nearby Central Market was reported but deemed unrelated, highlighting the area’s vulnerability to such incidents.
The incident sparked widespread outrage online, with viral videos of the chaos fueling calls for stricter building safety regulations. Nigerians criticized the apparent lack of adequate emergency exits and fire drills in commercial properties, pointing to the disorganized evacuation as a systemic failure. “This could have been a tragedy if not for quick thinking and brave locals,” said Chinedu Okeke, a nearby shop owner who witnessed the rescues. Authorities have launched an investigation into the fire’s cause, with preliminary reports pointing to the inverter room but no definitive conclusions yet. Lagos State Emergency Services (112) remains on alert, urging residents to report concerns promptly.
As the dust settles, the Afriland Tower fire serves as a stark reminder of the need for improved safety infrastructure in Nigeria’s commercial capital. While the absence of fatalities offers relief, the millions in damages and the harrowing escapes underscore the urgency of addressing fire risks in high-rise buildings. For now, Broad Street is returning to normalcy, but the incident has left an indelible mark on Lagosians, who are demanding accountability and action to prevent future disasters. The resilience of the community, from the “man in white” to the firefighters, ensured a potential catastrophe was averted, but the question remains: how long until the next spark?
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