UBA denies report of fire outbreak at branch

UBA on Tuesday denied reports of a fire outbreak at its Lagos Island branch.

In a statement signed by Ramon Nasir, Group Head, Media and External Relations, the bank clarified: “We are aware of the fire incident at a building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, which incidentally houses one of our branches.

Contrary to reports on social media, the affected building is not UBA House, Marina, our head office.

We have ensured the safety and well-being of our staff, customers, and visitors in the building.”

Several workers were trapped after a fire broke out at the Afriland Building on Broad Street, Lagos Island, Lagos, on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, according to a BBC report.

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Various videos circulating on social media show the moment workers jumped from windows in a desperate attempt to escape the blaze.

The fire quickly drew public attention, with thick smoke and flames rising into the air as bystanders brought out their phones to record the incident.

According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, they are currently battling the fire. The agency stated that it received the distress call at 1:38 p.m., and fire crews from the Ebute Elefun Fire Station and the Sari Iganmu Fire Station responded promptly.

The fire reportedly originated in the inverter room located in the basement of the building. Smoke has since spread across multiple floors, engulfing much of the structure.

“Evacuation of occupants is ongoing, while firefighting operations have helped ease the initial panic before the arrival of the first responders,” the Fire Service stated.

In one of the videos, a man can be seen climbing down the building while others hold a ladder to assist him.

Hope Moses-Ashike

Hope Moses-Ashike is an Associate Editor, Banking and Finance, with more than a decade of experience reporting on Nigeria’s financial system and broader economy. She closely tracks market movements, monetary policy decisions, company disclosures, regulatory actions, economic indicators, and global developments, and interprets what they mean for businesses, investors, policymakers, and households. Her reporting helps readers understand complex issues such as inflation trends, foreign exchange market dynamics, interest rate decisions, bank performance, and investment risks. She also covers major international events and periodically travels to Washington, D.C., to report on the World Bank/IMF Spring and Annual Meetings. Her dedication to financial journalism has earned her multiple recognitions and invitations to high-level professional development programmes. She is an alumna of the International Visitors Leadership Programme (IVLP) in the United States and holds an Advanced Financial Journalism Certificate from the Press Association Training in London, UK. Her other notable achievements include completing the Lagos Business School CMC Programme, the Bloomberg Media Africa Initiative Programme, and a Master Class in Journalism at Rhodes University in South Africa.