Elumelu Mourns Staff Killed in Afriland Building Fire Incident

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The Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA), Tony Elumelu, said he was shattered by the fire outbreak that killed staff members of the bank, describing the inferno as a devastating incident.

The fire incident occurred yesterday at Afriland Towers Building on Lagos Island, housing the UBA branch.

Elumelu reportedly expressed his deep sorrow over the incident in a statement on Wednesday, September 17.

“I am shattered by yesterday’s devastating incident at Afriland Towers, which took the lives of our dear colleagues. No words can capture the magnitude of this loss – not for their families who loved them, not for the friends who valued them, and not for those of us who worked beside them.

“Yesterday was a stark reminder of what truly matters: our irreplaceable people, those who walk through our doors each day and share our mission,” Elumelu said.

Pinnacle Daily reported on Tuesday that the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed the fire incident that rattled the six-storey building located on Broad Street.

The service was said to have received the emergency call at 1:38 pm and deployed its fire crews from Ebute Elefun Fire Station and Sari Iganmu Fire Station to rescue the situation.

The fire was said to have been started in the inverter room in the basement before smoke spread across multiple floors and engulfed the structure.

Although Elumelu did not disclose the number of casualties recorded in the incident, he hinted that he was en route to New York for the UNGA when he received the sad news and had to cut short his trip to mourn the lost staff.

He called on staff and associates to stand in solidarity with those receiving care while assuring that the company would extend full support to the families of the deceased.

“I learnt of this on my way to the US, en route to New York for UNGA. I have cut short my trip to return to Lagos as a mark of respect for our lost colleagues.

“As we navigate this grief, I urge you all to reach out to those who are receiving care. In the coming days, we will convene colleagues in a memorial to honour the memories of the departed, as we provide support to their families.

“I also want to thank all those who supported in one way or the other, from emergency responders and first aid workers to members of the public who showed courage and compassion,” he said.

He hinted that a minute of silence was to be observed on Wednesday at noon across all UBA Group in memory of the victims.

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