Nigeria Labour Congress challenges response to Lagos Island fire

Nigeria Labour Congress response to UBA building fire

The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has issued a statement following a fire at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Afriland Building on Lagos Island.

According to the NLC, the incident claimed at least six lives and left several people injured and hospitalised.

The organisation said the tragedy came only days after another fire destroyed a stretch of shops, warehouses and residential buildings in the same area.

It reported that the fires also caused large financial losses, with goods valued in billions of naira destroyed.

The NLC argued that these events highlighted wider failures in building safety and public protection in Lagos State.

Comrade Prince Adewale Adeyanju, Acting President of the NLC, said: “These fires are totally not accidents of fate. They are products of systemic rot, institutional negligence, and the reckless disregard for safety rules and human dignity that have become the hallmark of governance in Nigeria.

“What we are witnessing is not merely fire; it is the fire of corruption, the fire of inefficiency, the fire of collapsed institutions, and the fire of state abandonment of its fundamental duty; the protection of lives and property.”

Concerns about workplace and building safety

The NLC said the UBA case raised questions about safety management and preparedness within large commercial organisations.

It stated that workers were seen jumping from windows in fear during the incident.

The labour congress questioned whether safety measures, crisis teams and staff training were adequately in place.

Adeyanju said: “One wonders if there was any significant safety precautions in designing and managing the building and whether the workers were adequately trained and prepared for such eventualities while whether internal crisis management teams were put in place to act as first responders to such incidents before it occurred.”

The organisation added that such failures exposed workers to preventable risks.

Fire risks in Lagos Island markets

The NLC also addressed the wider pattern of fires in Lagos Island markets.

It said incidents in shops and warehouses had become an annual problem.

The organisation argued that stronger safeguards should have been introduced to protect businesses and traders.

It warned against viewing the issue through conspiracy theories and called instead for practical safety measures.

The NLC stated that better preparedness and learning from previous events would reduce the recurrence of market fires.

Emergency response and public safety

The NLC criticised the condition of public fire and rescue services in Nigeria.

It reported that many services lacked working hydrants, functioning equipment or adequate vehicles.

The organisation said this left communities unprotected during emergencies.

Adeyanju said: “What does it say about a nation when its fire services are without hydrants, its emergency management agencies lack functional equipment, and its citizens are left to perish in flames because the state has abdicated its most basic responsibility to the citizenry.”

The NLC said government budgets for emergency services were not reflected in effective operational capacity.

Demands for investigations and reforms

The NLC listed a series of demands following the recent fires.

It called for an independent investigation into the UBA fire and the Lagos Island market fires.

It urged stronger enforcement of workplace and public safety standards.

It asked for improved funding and equipping of emergency services at all levels of government.

The organisation also demanded compensation and support for victims and their families.

It further called for a shift towards what it described as people-centred governance models.

Broader safety issues and flooding concerns

The NLC connected fire safety failures with wider risks such as flooding.

It commended the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) for recent flood warnings but urged further action.

It said evacuation plans and preventive measures should be prioritised.

The organisation argued that annual floods caused by water releases from upstream dams required stronger long-term solutions.

Adeyanju added: “We must go beyond warning to take actions to ensure the evacuation of communities around these areas and provisioning for them in suitable locations where they can continue with their lives until the floods abate.”

Relevance for fire and safety professionals

This statement highlights the intersection of fire safety, emergency preparedness and labour rights in Nigeria.

It draws attention to building safety practices in large organisations and the adequacy of crisis planning for employees.

It raises concerns about the operational readiness of local fire and emergency services.

It also emphasises the need for independent investigations and stronger regulation in both commercial and public safety environments.

Nigeria Labour Congress calls for action after Lagos fire tragedies: Summary

The Nigeria Labour Congress has issued a statement on recent fire incidents in Lagos Island.

It said at least six people died in a fire at the United Bank for Africa Afriland Building.

It reported that another fire destroyed shops and warehouses in the same area days earlier.

The NLC criticised negligence in safety management by both government and corporate institutions.

It said emergency services in Nigeria lacked hydrants, equipment and capacity to respond.

It demanded an independent investigation into the UBA fire and the Lagos Island market fires.

It called for stronger enforcement of workplace and public safety standards.

It requested better funding and equipment for emergency response services.

It urged compensation for victims and families.

It also warned that annual flooding risks required stronger planning and mitigation.