FIRS Loses Four Senior Staff in Lagos Tower Fire
Tragedy struck the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as four senior staff members lost their lives in the fire that engulfed Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos, on Tuesday, September 16.
The victims — Mrs. Ekelikhostse George (Assistant Director), Mr. David Sunday-Jatto (Assistant Director), Mrs. Nkem Onyemelukwe (Senior Manager), and Mr. Peter Ifaranmaye (Manager) — were trapped on duty at the sixth and seventh floors, where two FIRS offices are located.
In a statement, Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS chairman, described the loss as heartbreaking, noting that staff and management are in “deep shock and sorrow.” He added: “We are in touch with the families of our departed colleagues whose commitment to excellence, dedication and professionalism were never in doubt. We will provide all the necessary support at this trying time.”
Emergency responders confirmed that investigations are ongoing to uncover the exact cause of the fire. Meanwhile, FIRS has pledged to review safety protocols in all its offices nationwide to prevent such a tragedy from reoccurring.
Naija Context:
This incident not only raises concerns about workplace safety in high-rise offices but also highlights the fragile state of emergency preparedness in Nigeria’s commercial hubs. With Lagos housing many government and corporate offices in similar towers, the question now is whether agencies are ready to match grief with action by enforcing stricter safety standards.
Do you think Nigeria takes workplace safety seriously enough, or are we only reactive after tragedies
