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- UBA has provided clarification after its head office was reported to have been affected by recent Lagos Island fire
- The tier one commercial bank denied the report and assured that its staff, customers, and visitors are safe
- The fire broke out at the Afriland Building on Broad Street, trapping several workers and forcing some to jump from windows to escape
Legit.ng journalist Dave Ibemere has over a decade of experience in business journalism, with in-depth knowledge of the Nigerian economy, stocks, and general market trends.
United Bank for Africa (UBA) has denied reports that its Lagos Island branch was gutted by fire on Tuesday, September 17.
In a statement signed by Ramon Nasir, Group Head, Media and External Relations, the bank said the incident occurred at Afriland Building on Broad Street, Lagos.
Photo: UBA
Source: UGC
The bank stated that the affected property was not its head office.
Nasir said:
“We are aware of the fire incident at a building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, which incidentally houses one of our branches. Contrary to reports on social media, the affected building is not UBA House, Marina, our head office. We have ensured the safety and well-being of our staff, customers, and visitors in the building.”
The fire, which erupted on Tuesday afternoon, left several workers trapped inside the multi-storey Afriland Building.
A BBC report said panicked employees attempted to escape through windows, with videos circulating online showing people leaping from upper floors while bystanders screamed in shock.
Eyewitness clips also captured thick plumes of black smoke rising above the Lagos Island skyline as flames tore through sections of the building. Dozens of onlookers gathered outside, some using their phones to document the unfolding emergency.
Photo: Nurphoto
Source: Getty Images
Lagos state gives update on fire incident
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the blaze originated in the inverter room located in the basement before spreading to other floors, BusinessDay reports.
The agency said in a statement
“Evacuation of occupants is ongoing, while firefighting operations have helped ease the initial panic before the arrival of the first responders.”
It added that the distress call was received at 1:38 p.m., with crews from Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu fire stations swiftly deployed to the scene.
Similarly, the Federal Fire Service released a statement confirming the incident.
A statement reads:
“The Federal Fire Service is actively responding to a fire outbreak at Afriland Tower, Broad Street, Lagos Island, following a call received at 13:24 hrs.
“Upon receiving the alert, the Federal Fire Service stations at Onikan and Ebute Meta were immediately deployed to the scene. Preliminary findings indicate that the fire originated from the inverter room located at the basement level, with smoke rapidly spreading across multiple floors of the high-rise building.
“Federal Fire Service personnel swiftly commenced evacuation of occupants while simultaneously launching firefighting operations to contain the blaze. Their prompt action calmed panic and prevented the fire from escalating further. As of this release, crews remain on-site to ensure complete extinguishment of the fire, continuous monitoring, and the safety of the structure. Occupants are advised to remain calm and cooperate fully with emergency responders as operations continue.
“The Federal Fire Service commends the public for its cooperation during this ongoing operation and urges all citizens to remain vigilant.
The Afriland Building, a commercial property on Broad Street, houses several offices and businesses.
Federal fire service recruitment
Earlier, Legit.ng the federal government has issued a fresh update on the ongoing fire service recruitment exercise.
It cautioned applicants against paying money to scammers posing as recruitment agents.
Applicants were reminded that all authentic information regarding recruitment into agencies under the Ministry of Interior would only be disseminated through the official platforms.
Source: Legit.ng
