FIRS loses 2 Assistant Directors, 2 managers in Afriland Towers fire incident

By Ayorinde Oluokun/Abuja

The management of Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) has said it lost two Assistant Directors and two managers in the fire incident at six-storey Afriland Towers, Broad Street, Lagos, on Tuesday.

According to a statement signed by Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to the FIRS chairman the four staff members were working at one of the two FIRS offices located on the sixth and seventh floors of Afriland Towers.

FIRS identified the deceased staff as Mrs Ekelikhostse George (Assistant Director), Mr David Sunday-Jatto (assistant director), Mrs Nkem Onyemelukwe (senior manager) and Mr Peter Ifaranmaye (manager).

“It is with a heavy heart that FIRS announces the tragic loss of four of its staff members during the fire incident at Afriland Towers, Broad Street, Lagos, on Tuesday.

“FIRS is one of the tenants occupying the Towers with our Medium Tax Audit and Onikan Emerging Tax Office housed on the sixth and seventh floors.

Security and Safety officials quickly mobilised and contacted the fire service as soon as they were alerted. On getting to the scene, thick dark smoke was already billowing out of the building.

“The Management and entire staff are in deep shock and sorrow over the development. They offer their condolences to the grieving families and are in touch with the families of our departed colleagues whose commitment to excellence, dedication and professionalism were never in doubt. We will provide all the necessary support at this trying time.

“We are working in collaboration with all relevant agencies in Lagos to get to the root cause of the unfortunate incident. While this is going on, we will be reviewing safety measures across FIRS offices in both rented and owned buildings nationwide,” the statement said.

Recall that the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service had said its operatives rescued nine people from the fire incident at the Afriland Tower.

However, the Service said while five of the those rescued were resuscitated, four others were unconscious.