‘I’m shattered’: Elumelu mourns UBA staff killed in Afriland building fire outbreak

The Chairman of Heirs Holdings, Tony Elumelu, has disclosed that United Bank for Africa (UBA) staff died in the fire outbreak at Afriland Towers in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State.

The fire incident occurred on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

Speaking via a statement on Wednesday, Elumelu, who is also the chairman of UBA, said he was shattered by the fire outbreak, describing the inferno as a devastating incident.

UBA has a space in the six-storey building at the Afriland Towers.

Elumelu, who failed to disclose the number of casualties recorded in the incident, said: “No words can capture the magnitude of this loss — not for their families who loved them, not for the friends who valued them, and not for those of us who worked beside them.”

Afriland speaks on fire outbreak at Lagos Island towers

“Yesterday was a stark reminder of what truly matters: our irreplaceable people, those who walk through our doors each day and share our mission.”

The UBA boss further revealed that he learnt of the fire outbreak while on his way to the United States, en route to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).

Elumelu, however, revealed that he has cut short his foreign trip to return to Lagos as “a mark of respect to our lost colleagues.”

Elumelu, who enjoined all Heirs Holdings staff to reach out to those receiving treatment, added: “In the coming days, we will convene colleagues in a memorial to honour the memories of the departed, as we provide support to their families.”

He also thanked emergency responders and first aid workers, as well as members of the public for showing courage and compassion, noting that a minute silence will be observed across all group companies at 12 p.m. on Wednesday.

The Star