Tony Elumelu Mourns UBA Staff Killed In Afriland Towers Fire

By Micheal Chukwuebuka

Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc and Afriland Properties Plc, Tony Elumelu, has expressed profound grief over the fire outbreak at Afriland Towers, Victoria Island, Lagos, which claimed the lives of several staff members on Tuesday.

In a statement issued on Wednesday, Elumelu described the tragedy as a devastating loss for the Afriland family.

“I am shattered by yesterday’s devastating incident at Afriland Towers, which took the lives of our dear colleagues. 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,” he said.

The businessman disclosed that he was en route to New York for the United Nations General Assembly when news of the fire reached him, prompting him to cut short his trip to return to Lagos as a mark of respect to the deceased.

Elumelu urged staff and associates to stand in solidarity with those receiving medical care and assured that the company would extend full support to the families of the victims.

“As we navigate this grief, I urge you all to reach out to those who are receiving care. 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 added.

He also expressed appreciation to emergency responders, first aid workers and members of the public who assisted during the incident, commending their courage and compassion.

Elumelu announced that a minute’s silence would be observed across all his Group’s companies at 12 noon on Wednesday in honour of the victims.