The Lagos State Government has provided clarification on the recent fire incidents at Afriland Towers and Central Plaza on Lagos Island, confirming that seven people lost their lives due to carbon monoxide inhalation.
At a joint news briefing in Alausa on Thursday, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso, speaking on behalf of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, described the incidents as unfortunate and sympathised with the families of the victims.
He assured that the state would continue to prioritise the safety of lives and property, adding that government investments in safety infrastructure remain a top priority.
Omotoso cautioned against the spread of misinformation, urging Lagosians to avoid panic during emergencies, as hasty reactions often worsen casualty figures.
The Director-General of the Lagos State Safety Commission, Dr Lanre Mojola, explained that first responders arrived within the “golden hour,” but victims succumbed to smoke inhalation and panic.
He advised residents to adopt safety measures such as crawling during fire outbreaks, and urged owners of high-rise buildings to register for safety certification with the commission.
Similarly, the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, disclosed that firefighters arrived at the scene within 20 minutes.
She said the Afriland Towers fire started in the basement where inverter batteries were kept, while poor crowd management hampered rescue operations at Central Plaza.
On her part, the Director of the Lagos State Ambulance Service (LASAMBUS), Mrs Beatrice Makinde, said injured victims received free treatment at the General Hospital, Lagos, with three already discharged and reunited with their families.
The state government also commiserated with traders at Central Plaza, near Mandilas Market, who lost goods worth millions of naira in the inferno.
The briefing was attended by top officials of the state’s emergency agencies, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Fire and Rescue Service, LASAMBUS, and the Safety Commission, who jointly reiterated the government’s commitment to timely, efficient, and effective response during emergencies.