Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has extended his condolences to the families, businesses, and traders who lost loved ones and property in the fire that broke out on Tuesday at Afriland Towers, a six-storey commercial building on Broad Street, Lagos Island.
The blaze, which also affected parts of Central Plaza near Mandilas Market, resulted in multiple fatalities and destroyed goods worth millions of naira.
In a statement released Thursday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, Governor Sanwo-Olu described the tragedy as “unfortunate and shocking,” acknowledging it as a significant loss to the state and the organizations involved.
He particularly sympathized with the Federal Inland Revenue Service and United Capital PLC, which lost four and six employees, respectively.
“The fire incident at Afriland Towers in Broad Street was worrisome and a significant loss to Lagos State Government, the Federal Inland Revenue Service, United Capital PLC, and other companies and individuals, with property worth millions of naira destroyed.
“It is with a heavy heart that I received news of the fire outbreak. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families, the management, and staff of all the organisations that lost their loved ones in the ugly incident. I wish the injured persons a speedy recovery,” the governor was quoted as saying.
Sanwo-Olu also extended condolences to traders at the Central Plaza, who lost valuable assets in the inferno, pledging that the government would strengthen fire safety measures across the state.
He said, “The government will continue to support efforts aimed at preventing and swiftly arresting such ugly incidents in the future.”
The governor further commended emergency responders, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Ambulance Service, and the Federal Fire Service, for their rapid intervention which, he said, helped reduce the scale of casualties.