President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has expressed grief over the fire outbreak at Afriland Building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, which claimed seven lives and left several others injured.
Naijaonpoint understands that the victims, including four staff members of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), were rushed to hospitals across the state on Tuesday after being evacuated from the high-rise tower.
Doctors are still battling to save some of the injured.
The inferno also affected the offices of United Bank for Africa (UBA) and Afriland Properties Limited, leaving families and colleagues of the deceased in mourning.
In a statement issued on Thursday by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu commiserated with the bereaved families, the management of FIRS, UBA and Afriland Properties over the tragic loss.
“President Tinubu extends his condolences to the management and staff of Afriland Properties Limited, the FIRS, UBA, and particularly those who lost loved ones in the inferno, and the injured who are currently receiving medical attention,” the statement read.
The President also offered prayers for the repose of the souls of the departed and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Tinubu praised the quick intervention of emergency responders, including the Federal Fire Service, first aiders, medical personnel and members of the public, who worked together to evacuate occupants of the building.
“The President commends the emergency responders for their quick intervention and notes their deep sense of responsibility during the evacuation,” Onanuga added.
He urged greater caution and preparedness in public and private institutions to avert similar tragedies.
“President Tinubu advises more caution, training, and alertness to avert such emergencies in the future,” the statement further noted.
Naijaonpoint reports that the Afriland Tower inferno was one of two fire incidents that rocked the Lagos Island Business District on Tuesday.
Both incidents left several people injured and destroyed goods worth millions of naira.
Emergency teams were still conducting mop-up operations as of Wednesday, while families of the victims thronged hospitals hoping for good news.