The Federal Fire Service has launched an investigation into the Lagos Island office tower blaze that claimed several lives, while also announcing a new nationwide task force on building fire safety compliance.

The fire, which broke out on 16 September at Afriland Tower on Broad Street, gutted parts of the high-rise that houses the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), among other offices. Initial reports suggest the incident may have started in the building’s inverter room.

Controller General of the Service, Samuel Adeyemi Olumode, expressed condolences to the FIRS Executive Chairman, Zacch Adelabu Adedeji, UBA Chairman Tony Elumelu, and the families of the victims. “We pray for the repose of the departed and comfort for their loved ones,” he said.

Olumode directed a specialist fire investigation team to determine the direct and remote causes of the blaze, including the state of the building’s safety systems, maintenance practices and compliance with regulations. He said the findings would be made public and implemented without delay.

The Controller General also announced the rollout of a nationwide Fire Safety Compliance Task Force. The team will audit public and private buildings, enforce standards, sanction offenders, and train facility managers. The initiative, he said, is intended to shift the Service from a reactive approach to a culture of prevention and accountability.

“Installing fire safety equipment is not enough. It must be maintained, tested for functionality, and staff must be trained to use it,” Olumode stressed.

The Fire Service urged all corporate bodies, public agencies and facility owners to review their safety readiness, including securing generator and inverter rooms, ensuring fire alarms are functional, and keeping exit pathways clear.

Olumode also commended Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo for supporting the passage of the Federal Fire and Rescue Act, which aims to entrench a stricter fire prevention culture nationwide.

The Lagos fire has renewed calls for stronger safety enforcement in Nigeria, where poor compliance and weak maintenance standards are often blamed for deadly incidents.