• Afriland Tower fire death toll hits 10
• HURIWA faults response, urges N1b compensation for victims’ families
• Federal Fire Service orders probe into inferno

Emergency workers continued operations at Mandilas yesterday, following the raging fire outbreak on Balogun, Lagos Island.

Although the blaze had been largely extinguished, flames were still visible in some of the affected buildings.

The fire, which started at Emab Plaza, a four-storey building located behind Mandilas, was first reported around 8:00 p.m. It began on the fourth floor before spreading rapidly to nearby structures, ultimately consuming four buildings: two four-storey buildings, one three-storey building, and one two-storey building.

When The Guardian visited the scene, it observed that shops attached to the main buildings in the market had been marked for demolition by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA).

During the operation, a man approached emergency workers, claiming that his brother was still inside one of the buildings, although this could not be verified.

A shoe trader, Caroline Alabi, recounted: “The fire started about 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday and I have a shop in Obama Plaza. I was severely affected. I could not remove any of my goods because I live in Sangotedo and only arrived around 10:00 a.m. the following day.

“After the Mandilas Warehouse burnt down in 2024, progress was made on installing a fire hydrant system in the market, but the project was never completed. When I arrived, I met the fire service on the ground and I can say they tried their best, but the equipment was inadequate.

“The government is inconsiderate in the kind of resources it provides for tackling such fires. Now the government is proposing new taxes on business owners from 2026, and I hope this will at least bring us better protection.

“No one here is insured, including myself, because I don’t think any insurance company would agree to cover a market like this.”

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Office of Urban Development, Gbolahan Oki, who visited the scene, criticised building owners and threatened to demolish structures with illegal extensions.

He warned: “If you attach an extension to your building and its removal affects the structure, the entire building will be pulled down. Tell those from whom you have collected money and who are using those extensions to vacate immediately. You have until Friday (today). By Friday evening, I will return to start demolishing. You cannot continue to cause inconvenience in Lagos State.

“Remove your goods because there will be no stopping once we begin demolition. Any building obstructing the tractors will also be pulled down. You cannot keep wasting taxpayers’ money.”

Meanwhile, the number of casualties in the Afriland Tower fire has risen to 10 following the confirmation by United Capital Plc of the death of six members of its staff.

The announcement came after the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) earlier confirmed the loss of four of its staff in the inferno.

In a statement, United Capital said: “It is with profound grief that the Management and Staff of United Capital Plc announce the passing of six of our dear colleagues following the tragic fire at Afriland Towers on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

“Our departed colleagues were an integral part of our company and family. Their painful loss leaves an immeasurable void. We extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones. We continue to hold them in our thoughts and prayers while providing all the support we can during this most difficult time.

“We are making preparations for an appropriate memorial service to honour their lives and mark their passing with dignity and solemnity.

“We thank the emergency services and all those who responded for their valiant assistance at the time of the incident.

“In this moment of untold grief, we stand together in solidarity, drawing strength from one another as we navigate this period. May the souls of the departed rest in peace.”

Also, the Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) yesterday described the deaths recorded in the Lagos fire outbreak as avoidable, blaming the tragedy on the absence of basic safety infrastructure such as fire hydrants, extinguishers and emergency exits.

The group also condemned what it termed the delayed arrival of first responders, which it said worsened the fatalities.

HURIWA urged the families of the deceased to institute legal action against the owners of the housing complex, as well as the Lagos State and federal governments, and seek not less than N1 billion each in compensation for what it called “criminal negligence.”

In a statement by its National Coordinator, Comrade Emmanuel Onwubiko, HURIWA insisted that government bore a constitutional duty to prevent fire disasters or at least minimise their impact by enforcing safety codes for high-rise buildings.

“It is the legal duty of government to prevent such avoidable tragedies,” Onwubiko said, wondering why corporate and public institutions alike failed to notice that the complex housing their offices lacked basic fire-fighting facilities.

The group maintained that bereaved families should seek damages from employers and government authorities for contributing to the “untimely deaths” through failure to provide emergency exits and fire equipment.

Additionally, the Federal Fire Service (FFS) yesterday ordered an investigation into Tuesday’s fire at Afriland Tower, Broad Street, Lagos Island, which claimed the lives of 10 employees of companies housed in the building.

Controller General of the Service, Samuel Adeyemi Olumode, in a statement, commiserated with the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the United Bank for Africa (UBA), as well as families and friends of those who lost their lives in the inferno.

“Following initial reports indicating that the fire originated from the inverter room of the building, the CGF has directed the immediate deployment of a Federal Fire Service investigation team to establish the direct and remote causes of the incident, including the state of safety systems, maintenance practices and compliance with fire safety regulations,” the statement said.

Olumode assured that the findings would be made public and recommendations implemented without delay.

He announced plans to roll out a nationwide Task Force on Fire Safety Compliance to audit buildings, enforce standards, sanction offenders, train facility managers and strengthen collaboration with regulators.

He urged corporate bodies and agencies to review their fire readiness and commended Interior Minister Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo for backing reforms under the Federal Fire and Rescue Act.