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Four persons hospitalised as fire guts two Lagos buildings

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Four yet-to-be-identified persons are currently battling for their lives after fire gutted a six-storey building at the Afriland Tower, which houses a branch of the United Bank for Africa and other companies on Broad Street in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State.

This is just as another plaza located in the same area, was gutted by fire, which led to a part of the building caving in.

It was learnt that the first incident caused panic among occupants and passersby in the busy commercial hub.

According to multiple videos shared on social media, individuals were seen attempting to jump from the storey building, while others were rescued with the aid of ladders by residents and passersby.

Crowds gathered in front of the building also watched in panic as firefighters and volunteers attempted to bring the situation under control.

Confirming the incident in a statement on Tuesday, the Deputy Controller of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Ogabi Olajide, said the emergency call was received at 1:38 p.m., and fire crews from the Ebute Elefun and Sari Iganmu fire stations responded.

“The call was received at 13:38 hours, and fire crews from Ebute Elefun Fire Station and Sari Iganmu Fire Station responded.

“The fire originated in the inverter room located in the basement of the building, while smoke spread across multiple floors and engulfed the structure,” Olajide stated.

According to him, evacuation of occupants was in progress, while firefighting operations had been concluded, dousing the earlier panic before the arrival of the first responders.

An unidentified emergency responder, who was interviewed at the scene of the incident, has said he was able to rescue two people out of the fire.

“I brought out two people with my own hands from the top of the building, but when the firefighters came, we were asked to go out,” he said.

While providing an update, the firefighting agency official, in another terse statement obtained, stated that 11 persons had been evacuated into the ambulances.

He further explained that out of the 11, a total of nine casualties were rescued, while five individuals were successfully resuscitated.

“Several others escaped unhurt, while efforts are currently ongoing to resuscitate the remaining four individuals. Relevant emergency agencies are on the ground to ensure crowd control and easy movement of emergency responders.”

In another incident, PUNCH Metro gathered that a part of the Central Plaza located on Broad Street, Lagos Island, caved in after it was gutted by fire on Tuesday.

The inferno, which began at about 7:40 p.m., spread rapidly through the multi-storey shopping complex.

Our correspondent, who monitored the incident, observed that the collapse occurred while the emergency responders were making efforts to curtail the inferno.

Traders and shop owners were also seen carrying out their wares and equipment in an effort to salvage their livelihoods.

An eyewitness who did not want to be mentioned in print told PUNCH Metro that the occupants of the building had been evacuated before a part of it collapsed.

“When the fire started, the traders had been evacuated before the building collapsed.

“The collapse occurred while the emergency responders were trying to curtail the fire. I don’t think anybody was trapped under the building,” the eyewitness said.

When contacted for a reaction to the second incident, the spokesperson for the LSFRS, Shakiru Amodu, disclosed that the rescue operation was ongoing.

He, however, said details of the incident would be disclosed upon the conclusion of the operations.

“We are at the scene of the incident. I cannot give details at the moment because the rescue operation is still ongoing. Details will be provided later,” Amodu said.

As of the time of filing this report, the exact causes of the fire incidents could not be ascertained.

PUNCH Metro had on September 5 reported that a fire gutted A1 Petroleum Filling Station on Isawo Road, off Agric Bus Stop, Ikorodu, Lagos, causing panic among residents and commuters in the area.

Reports indicated that the blaze started from a diesel-laden truck parked within the premises of the station, forcing people to scamper for safety as fears of a possible explosion spread.

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Trump administration cuts energy projects, freezes New York funding

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The Trump administration has announced plans to terminate dozens of clean energy projects and freeze billions of dollars for major projects in New York, intensifying a stand-off with Democrats over a US government shutdown.

US media outlets described the moves announced by the energy and transportation departments as part of the administration’s efforts to pressure Democrats in Congress to agree on a deal to end the shutdown.

US President Donald Trump had raced to enact hard-right policies even before the shutdown began after midnight on Tuesday, threatening mass firings and to slash government departments, and blaming Democrats for Congress’ failure to resolve a funding stand-off.

The Department of Energy announced on Thursday “the termination of 321 financial awards supporting 223 projects, resulting in a savings of approximately $7.56 billion for American taxpayers.”

It said in a statement that those projects — overseen by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and other bodies — “did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs… and would not provide a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars.”

However, recipients of federal funding have 30 days to appeal against a termination decision, and some have already begun the process, the statement said.

It did not list the projects in question.

In a post on social media platform X, Russell Vought, who heads the powerful Office of Management and Budget, called the slashed projects “Green New Scam funding” that was used to advance “the Left’s climate agenda”.

He listed the states affected by the decision. They include California, New York and 14 others — all blue states where Trump failed to win in the 2024 presidential elections.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the Trump administration had decided to cancel “up to $1.2 billion” slated for a major hydrogen energy project, threatening tens of thousands of jobs.

“In Trump’s America, energy policy is set by the highest bidder, economics and common sense be damned,” Newsom said in a statement, vowing to keep pursuing a “clean energy strategy… no matter what DC tries to dictate.”

In New York — the home state of top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — the Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday it was freezing nearly $18 billion in federal funding for two major infrastructure projects, the Second Avenue subway and Hudson Tunnel.

The move takes aim at diversity, equity and inclusion policies, according to the department’s statement, saying that subsidizing projects with “race- and sex-based contracting requirements… is unconstitutional, counter to civil rights laws, and a waste of taxpayer resources.”

The funds would be frozen until a “quick administrative review is complete,” it said.

“Thanks to the Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries shutdown, however, USDOT’s review of New York’s unconstitutional practices will take more time,” it added, saying that the department “has been forced to furlough the civil rights staff responsible for conducting this review.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement that halting funding for “critical infrastructure projects” was “political payback and an attack on New York.”

“Donald Trump has been clear: he is intent on using his reckless government shutdown to hurt the American people,” she said.

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Shettima returns to Abuja after attending UNGA, meetings in Germany

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and high-level engagements in Germany.

The vice president’s aircraft touched down at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in the early hours of Thursday, where he was received by senior government officials.

During the week-long engagements, Shettima delivered the President’s national statement at the UNGA, calling for comprehensive reforms of the global body.

Vice President Kashim Shettima is being welcomed some government officials at the airport. Photo: State House

He also advocated Africa’s sovereignty over its estimated $700 billion mineral resources and strengthened Nigeria’s partnerships with the United Kingdom, the Gates Foundation, and other international stakeholders.

In New York, Shettima met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who commended Nigeria’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

The vice president also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunities to global investors and assured members of the Nigerian diaspora of continued engagement in the Tinubu administration’s policies and programmes.

He later proceeded to Germany for further strategic meetings before returning to the country.

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Lagos unveils artisan certification to curb building collapse

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The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory has launched a new certification and training programme for artisans in the construction industry as part of efforts to stem the spate of building collapses in the state.

The initiative, known as the Certified Structural Integrated Programme, was unveiled at a stakeholders’ forum held in Ese-Offin and Badagry, where block moulders, bricklayers, concrete mixers, steel fabricators and welders converged to pledge support for safer construction practices.

In a statement on Thursday by the Lagos Government, General Manager of LSMTL, Olayinka Abdul, said the programme marked a decisive step in tackling recurring tragedies linked to substandard construction materials.

“Without artisans, there is no construction. But with you, we have the power to ensure every construction is safe, sound, and secure. We need to earnestly curb episodes of collapse in high-water-prone communities, and we do not want such in your community. It ends today,” he said.

According to the statement, the CSIP is a five-year assessment programme aimed at certifying construction materials as fit-for-purpose.

It will also produce an official directory of approved block moulders, concrete mixers and steel fabricators, to whom developers will be directed for supplies.

“This is not just about enforcement; it is about partnership and empowerment. Together, we can forge an unbreakable alliance that makes Lagos a model for building safety and integrity,” Abdul added.

Technical experts at the forum highlighted the scientific backing for the initiative. Director of the Soil and Geotechnics Unit, Engr. Abimbola Adebayo, stressed the need for mandatory soil tests before construction.

Similarly, Kayode Akinfeleye of the Technical Services Department advised builders to ensure architectural drawings are obtained and preserved, describing them as “a core requirement in the Lagos building process.”

Artisan guild leaders welcomed the initiative. Chairman of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, Alhaji Fabiyi Oyeleke, described frequent collapses as “disheartening” and commended the forum as a step in the right direction.

On his part, Chairman of the Lagos State Bricklayers Association, Mr. Fashina Aro, noted the peculiarities of Lagos’s swampy terrain and urged all stakeholders to ensure materials and soil tests are completed before bricklayers commence work on any site.

Building collapse has been a persistent challenge in Lagos, with many lives lost and substantial property damage over the years.

In recent incidents, emergency responders have had to rescue workers from collapsed structures.

PUNCH Online reports that rescue teams pulled eight workers from the debris of a collapsed building in September.

Reports by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild show Lagos accounts for about 55% of recorded building collapse incidents in Nigeria over the past several decades.

In response, Lagos has taken steps to strengthen bodies like the Lagos State Building Control Agency, enhancing enforcement, monitoring, and regulation of building standards.

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