The authorities of Afriland Properties, owners of Afriland Towers, which were gutted by fire last Tuesday, have provided answers to some of the questions being asked about the incident.
The unfortunate incident, in which about 10 people lost their lives, has continued to agitate people’s minds, which is why the Afriland management
has come up to put things straight and dispel what they have termed “misinformation in public space.”
The company, in a statement obtained by Businessday over the weekend, explained that the fire originated from the inverter room loca ted in the basement of the Towers, adding that all safety protocols were activated immediately, but the thick black smoke and intense heat generated quickly filled the basement and spread rapidly throughout the building.
They explained that some occupants of the building were forced to jump from the windows because the smoke, which spread rapidly throughout the building, severely compromised visibility and restricted access to designated evacuation routes.
“Under those challenging conditions, some occupants resorted to exiting through the windows in their efforts to reach safety. The intensity of the incident created significant disorder and hindered effective communication,” they added.
The building is equipped with fire alarms and safety systems, which are installed on all floors. The alarms were triggered, but some occupants indicated they heard them, while others said they didn’t.
On the question of why a building like that has no emergency exits and staff had to break windows for the smoke to escape, the company said the building is designed with two dedicated emergency staircases, providing access from all floors, as well as multiple exit points on the ground floor, but that the rapid spread of smoke severely limited the use of these escape routes.
People have also wondered why there were no smoke extractors and fire sprinklers in a building designed by a ‘supposed’ facilities management company. But, according to the company, the Towers is equipped with fire safety features, including smoke extractors, fire reels, and extinguishers, all in compliance with recommendations from both the Federal and State Fire Services.
“It is important to note that the fire was contained within its point of origin. We also engage safety regulators regularly to certify that our buildings meet all requirements for occupancy, and there are valid certifications to verify this,” the company disclosed.
It affirmed that fire drills are an integral part of the safety culture at Afriland Towers, saying that they have regular fire drills overseen by the fire service, and that the building’s safety protocols are certified annually by both the federal and state fire service, while each floor of the building has a designated fire warden who is trained annually.
As to whether their staff are still expected to return to that building, the company said that the building will undergo a full structural, safety, and regulatory review before anyone is asked to return, stressing that staff welfare and confidence remain paramount, and alternative arrangements will continue until the building is certified completely safe.
The company disclosed that they are prioritising the well-being of all staff, including precautionary medical evaluations, structured assistance during this grieving period, and counselling support. In addition, management is reviewing long-term support mechanisms to ensure their people are cared for and valued.
To ensure this never happens again, the company disclosed that they are undertaking a comprehensive safety review of Afriland Towers and all their managed facilities, including working with independent fire safety experts, regulatory agencies, and insurers to ensure elevated safety protocol even beyond regulatory requirements.
