By Society Assistant Editor
Ninolowo Gbamboye
One week has passed since the Afriland Tower inferno turned Broad Street on Lagos Island into a scene of mourning, but the pain remains raw for the families of the 10 lives lost. The September 16 fire, which ripped through the six-storey office complex, not only robbed families of breadwinners and loved ones but also exposed deep cracks in Nigeria’s workplace safety culture.
The victims included six employees of United Capital Plc and four staff of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS). For their colleagues, friends, and relatives, the tragedy is more than statistics — it is a personal wound that words and condolences cannot heal. Photographs of the deceased continue to flood social media, as tributes pour in from across the country.
The Human Stories Behind the Numbers
Among those who perished was Jesutomi Shodipo, a 21-year-old intern just starting her career, and Kehinde Adeoye (36), a compliance officer and mother of two who had only recently returned from maternity leave. Others include Ndidi Osaemedike-Okeke (41), a seasoned professional in the trustees’ unit; Olumide Oyefodunrin (27), a trust officer; Opeyemi Oloyede (26), another young intern in compliance; and Rebecca Adenuga (26), an associate in wealth management.
Their sudden deaths have left families shattered. Adeoye’s last words to her husband before smoke overcame her — “Help me take care of the children” — now echo as a haunting reminder of both her love and the country’s failure to protect her.
For relatives like Dolapo Obembe, the reality is almost unbearable. “Kehinde was on the phone with her sister and husband until she lost consciousness. I can’t imagine how they must feel reliving that moment,” he said.
Public Anger Over Avoidable Deaths
Across Nigeria, the tragedy has ignited debates over building standards and fire preparedness. Many have argued that the Afriland Tower fire was not merely an accident but a disaster waiting to happen.
“Too often in this country, we prioritise appearances over essentials,” wrote one mourner on social media. “Companies invest in stylish interiors while ignoring fire drills, ventilation systems, and safety exits. This negligence is killing us.”
Experts agree. Retired Lagos State Safety Commission director, Adeyinka Adebiyi, described the fire as “avoidable.” Citing international standards, he explained that up to 88 percent of accidents stem from human error or poor planning rather than fate. He pointed out that Afriland Tower’s sealed glass windows, which could not be opened or broken during the fire, trapped smoke and prevented escape.
Government officials have since admitted regulatory lapses. Gbolahan Owodunmi-Oki, Permanent Secretary of Urban Development, blamed poor building design: “Even in emergencies, the windows were sealed. In advanced countries, such glass is required to have emergency openings. That was absent here, and lives were lost.” He announced that Lagos State would begin enforcing ventilated designs for high-rise buildings.
A Call for Accountability and Change
For grieving families, reforms are cold comfort in the face of immeasurable loss. But many Nigerians insist that without accountability, the cycle of tragedy will continue.
“Every workplace in this country must adopt proper Safety Management Systems, conduct fire drills, and educate staff regularly,” Adebiyi advised. Others called for sanctions against negligent property owners and stricter enforcement of the ISO 45001-2018 safety standards.
For now, Lagos remains a city in mourning. Vigils are being held, obituaries printed, and burials planned. But behind the grief lies a bitter truth: these deaths were preventable.
The Afriland Tower fire is no longer just a local tragedy — it has become a national wake-up call. Whether Nigeria answers it with real reforms or allows the memory of the 10 victims to fade into another statistic remains to be seen.
