Four people are in critical condition after a fire broke out in a six-storey building at Afriland Tower on Broad Street, Lagos Island. The building houses a branch of the United Bank for Africa (UBA) and other offices.
In the same area, another fire incident occurred at a nearby plaza, causing part of the structure to collapse.
The first fire sparked panic among workers and passersby in the busy commercial district.
Videos shared on social media showed some people attempting to jump from the burning building, while others were rescued with ladders by residents and passersby.
Crowds gathered outside as firefighters and volunteers battled to put out the flames.
Confirming the incident, Deputy Controller of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Ogabi Olajide, said the emergency call came in at 1:38 p.m. Fire crews from Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu fire stations quickly responded.
He explained that the fire started in the inverter room in the basement, while smoke spread across several floors of the building.
Olajide added that evacuation was ongoing as firefighters completed their operation, calming the earlier panic before emergency teams fully arrived.
An emergency responder told reporters that he personally rescued two people before being asked to step back for professional crews to take over.
Later updates from the Fire Service revealed that 11 people were evacuated into ambulances. Out of them, nine victims were rescued, and five were successfully revived. Four others are still fighting for their lives.
“Several people escaped without injuries, while efforts continue to resuscitate the four in critical condition. Other agencies are also on the ground to manage the crowd and assist responders,” the statement said.
In a separate incident the same day, part of Central Plaza on Broad Street also collapsed after a fire broke out around 7:40 p.m.
The blaze spread quickly through the multi-storey shopping complex as emergency responders worked to contain it.
Traders rushed to salvage their goods and equipment from the building before the collapse.
An eyewitness confirmed that everyone inside the plaza had been evacuated before part of the structure gave way.
“The collapse happened while responders were still fighting the fire. Luckily, no one was trapped inside,” the eyewitness said.
When contacted, Fire Service spokesperson Shakiru Amodu confirmed that rescue operations were ongoing and promised more details after the situation was brought under control.
As of press time, the cause of both fires had not been determined.
It will be recalled that just last week, a fire gutted A1 Petroleum Filling Station in Ikorodu after a diesel-laden truck caught fire, causing panic among residents and commuters.
