On the night the fire broke out at Afriland Towers, time stood still. Flames engulfed what should have been a safe haven for work, and in the aftermath, ten lives were lost. Ten fathers, mothers, sons, daughters, friends, and colleagues, gone too soon. They are now remembered as The Afriland 10. Their memory lingers not only in the hearts of their loved ones but also as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers many workers face daily in workplaces across Nigeria and beyond.
In their honor, nights of tribute have been organized by the management of companies who lost their staff to the tragedy. Tears have flown, memories have be shared, and stories ofdreams abruptly cut short, echoed in the halls. But as the families grieve and eventually find ways to move forward, society is confronted with a haunting question: What lessons are we taking from this tragedy?
Beyond Paper Plans: The Need for Practical Emergency Response
One of the most significant lessons the Afriland Tower fire forces us to confront is the gap between written emergency response plans and actual preparedness. Too often, organizations produce glossy documents filled with policies and procedures that look impressive on paper but are never tested in real life.
In a fire or any other emergency, staff should not be left fumbling for what to do. A practically applicable emergency response plan must include:
• Routine drills under different scenarios: Evacuation drills should not be rehearsed for the same predictable fire-alarm situation. What happens if the fire starts near the exit? What if the power goes out completely? Testing for different scenarios prepares staff for the unexpected.
• Trained response teams: Organizations must invest in training fire wardens, first-aiders, and staff in crowd management during panic situations.
• Accessible safety tools: Fire extinguishers, fire blankets, and alarms should not only exist, they must be functional, regularly inspected, and accessible in multiple parts of the facility.
When lives are at stake, theory is not enough.
Routine Maintenance: An Investment, Not an Expense
Investigations into workplace fires worldwide reveal a common culprit: neglected electrical equipment. In many companies, routine maintenance is treated as an unnecessary cost rather than an investment in safety and longevity. Yet, the failure to maintain electrical panels, air conditioners, wiring, and generators often becomes the tinder that sparks disaster.
A safety-conscious organization should maintain:
• A detailed log of equipment inspections, every fuse, wire, and socket should be routinely checked and replaced when faulty.
• Preventive maintenance schedules, ensuring machines, generators, and electrical systems are not just repaired when broken but inspected to prevent failure.
• Independent safety audits, bringing in external experts who can identify risks internal staff may overlook.
The Afriland Tower fire, should serve as a turning point where every organization begins to view preventive maintenance as non-negotiable.
The Building Matters: Safety in the Design
Another reality exposed by the Afriland Tower tragedy is the importance of workplace design. During emergencies, survival often depends on the physical structure of the building. When workers are confined to a single entry and exit door, evacuation becomes a nightmare.
A walk-through of any facility should answer these questions:
• Are there multiple emergency exits, clearly marked and unobstructed?
• Are stairwells wide enough to accommodate a rush of people during panic?
• Do the windows provide a possible escape route, or are they permanently sealed?
• Is there emergency lighting in case the power supply fails?
• Are smoke detectors and sprinklers functional?
Sadly, many workers never ask these questions until it’s too late. Every employee has the right to demand answers from their employers about safety provisions, just as much as they do about salaries and benefits.
When the Exit Is Not Passable
The Afriland fire also revealed one of the most harrowing realities of workplace emergencies: what happens when the designated exit is no longer usable? With smoke and flames blocking stairwells and hallways, workers had no choice but to leap from windows, turning a desperate escape into another form of tragedy.
Yet, there are tested solutions that could have saved lives. Organizations should consider:
• Fixed wall ladders or detachable rope ladders: These can be installed near windows and provide an alternative escape route for upper floors.
• Inflatable evacuation cushions or safety air beds: Already in use in advanced fire response systems, these devices allow people to jump from higher floors with significantly reduced risk of injury.
• Rescue slides or chutes: Installed in some high-rise facilities, these enable rapid, safe evacuation of multiple people at once.
• Fire-rated safe rooms: Small, reinforced spaces where workers can shelter temporarily while awaiting rescue if exit routes are blocked.
No employee should have to choose between burning inside a building and jumping from a dangerous height. Every organization has a responsibility to anticipate such scenarios and provide alternatives.
The Environmental Cost of Workplace Fires
Beyond the heartbreaking human toll, workplace fires also leave scars on the environment. Burning materials release carbon dioxide (CO₂), soot, and toxic fumes that contribute to air pollution and climate change. The rubble, melted plastics, and destroyed equipment become hazardous waste that often ends up poorly disposed of, seeping into soil and waterways.
Thus, workplace safety is not only a matter of protecting lives but also of protecting the environment. Every fire avoided is a step towards reducing carbon emissions, conserving resources, and keeping our communities healthier.
A Culture of Responsibility
Creating safer workplaces requires more than equipment and drills, it demands a culture shift. Organizations must stop treating safety as a checkbox requirement for regulatory compliance and start embedding it into their core values. Leaders must lead by example, prioritizing safety investments even when profits are tight.
Equally, employees must see themselves as active participants in safety. Staff should:
• Report hazards without fear of victimization.
• Take fire drills seriously, not as inconveniences.
• Learn basic first-aid and fire response techniques.
• Speak up when they notice faulty equipment or blocked exits.
Safety, after all, is everyone’s responsibility.
The Afriland 10 Must Not Be Forgotten
As the tributes are held and candles lit for The Afriland 10, we must remember that the best tribute is not only in words but in action. These were not just “victims of a fire”, they were individuals with dreams, ambitions, and families who depended on them. Their lives must now serve as a rallying cry for every organization to re-examine its safety systems.
Families may eventually move on, but society owes it to them to ensure that their loved ones did not die in vain. By strengthening workplace safety, investing in preventive maintenance, testing emergency plans, and designing safer buildings, we honor their memory in the most practical way possible.
The “Afriland Tower 10” reminds us that every workplace has hidden risks, but with vigilance, investment, and commitment, tragedies like this can be prevented. Let us not wait for another fire before we act.
