United Capital loses six staff in Afriland inferno

United Capital Plc is mourning the loss of six staff members who tragically died in the fire that engulfed the Afriland building on Lagos Island.

The fire broke out at the Afriland Towers on Broad Street, Lagos Island, on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, trapping several workers in the building.

In a statement, the company said:

“It is with profound grief that the Management and Staff of United Capital Plc announce the passing of six of our dear colleagues following the tragic fire at Afriland Towers on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.

“Our departed colleagues were an integral part of our company and our family. Their painful loss leaves an immeasurable void.

“We extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to their families, friends, and loved ones. We continue to hold them in our thoughts and prayers and are providing all the support we can during this most difficult time.

Related News

“We are preparing an appropriate memorial service to honour their lives and mark their passing with dignity and solemnity.

“We thank the emergency services and all who responded for their valiant efforts during the incident.

“In this moment of untold grief, we stand united, drawing strength from one another as we navigate this tragic period.

“May the souls of the departed rest in peace”, the statement concluded.

President Bola Tinubu has called for increased vigilance to prevent future fire disasters. He also expressed condolences to the victims’ families, as well as to the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and United Bank for Africa (UBA), occupants of the affected building.

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.