General
Afriland Towers Fire: Elumelu Mourns as FIRS Loses Four Staff Members
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Chairman of Afriland Properties Plc, Mr Tony Elumelu, has extended condolences to staff and families of workers who died in Tuesday’s Afriland Towers fire, describing the tragedy as a devastating loss.
The building, which houses a UBA branch, United Capital, Avon, Afriland Properties Plc, Heirs Insurance, and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), was ravaged by fire two days ago.
A source told Business Post that the fire started at the Afriland office, but couldn’t immediately disclose the cause or number of casualties.
The development has sparked reactions, from many lamenting the absence of safe evacuation procedures.
In a statement, Mr Elumelu, expressed sadness at the losses.
“I am shattered by Tuesday’s incident at Afriland Towers which claimed the lives of our colleagues,” Mr Elumelu said, expressing grief and acknowledging the depth of the loss.
“No words can capture the magnitude of this loss — not for their families, their friends, nor those of us who worked beside them.
“Tuesday was a stark reminder of what truly matters: our irreplaceable people who walk through our doors each day and share our mission.
“I learnt of this on my way to the US, en route to New York for the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA).
“I have cut short my trip to return to Lagos as a mark of respect to our lost colleagues. Please reach out to those receiving care,” he said.
Mr Elumelu, also Chairman of Heirs Holdings, announced that a memorial would be held in honour of the deceased and to support their grieving families, thanking emergency responders, first aid workers, members of the public, and others who displayed courage and compassion during the fire incident.
In a related development, the FIRS mourned the death of four staff members who lost their lives in the fire.
Mr Dare Adekanmbi, Special Adviser on Media to FIRS Chairman, Mr Zacch Adedeji, listed the victims as Assistant Directors Mrs Ekelikhostse George and Mr David Sunday-Jatto. Others were Mrs Nkem Onyemelukwe, Senior Manager, and Mr Peter Ifaranmaye, Manager. All were working at FIRS offices on the sixth and seventh floors of the affected property.
Mr Adekanmbi said the management and staff of FIRS were plunged into deep mourning and grief following the tragic loss of their colleagues.
“It is with a heavy heart that FIRS announces the loss of four staff members during the Afriland Towers fire on Tuesday.
“Our Security and Safety officials quickly mobilised and contacted the fire service. On arrival, thick dark smoke was already billowing out of the building,” he said.
According to him, management and staff are in deep shock and extend condolences to the families and friends of the deceased.
He praised the departed colleagues for their dedication and professionalism, pledging support to their families and grieving co-workers.
“We are working with relevant agencies in Lagos to establish the root cause of the incident while reviewing safety measures across all FIRS offices nationwide,” he said.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Young bloggers, online content creators and digital influencers have been charged to embrace ethical journalism, responsible storytelling and fact-based reporting as they shape public opinion in the digital age.
This task was given by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mr Mohammed Idris, during the Niger State Bloggers, Online Publishers and Content Developers Forum on Monday in Abuja.
In a statement on Tuesday by his Special Assistant on Media, Mr Rabiu Ibrahim, the Minister said digital platforms offer enormous opportunities for innovation and civic engagement but must be used responsibly to promote truth, national unity and constructive public discourse.
He urged bloggers and content creators to verify information before publication, reject misinformation and disinformation, avoid sensationalism, and use their platforms to educate, inspire and promote national development.
Mr Idris also encouraged young Nigerians to see digital content creation not only as a source of income but also as a tool for civic engagement and nation-building, stressing that ethical communication is essential to strengthening democracy and public trust.
He further encouraged aspiring bloggers and digital entrepreneurs to continue developing their skills and uphold professional standards that will strengthen the credibility of Nigeria’s online media ecosystem.
“There is no democracy that can thrive without a responsible media. You cannot carry freedom and abandon responsibility,” he stated, adding that the government remains committed to protecting press freedom while encouraging ethical journalism.
The Minister also highlighted the establishment of the International Media and Information Literacy Institute (IMILI), the world’s first UNESCO Category 2 Institute dedicated exclusively to Media and Information Literacy, describing it as a major step in promoting digital literacy and responsible online engagement.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The vice-presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC), Mr Rabiu Kwankwaso, disclosed that Mr Peter Obi, the party’s presidential candidate, signed agreements committing himself to serving only one four-year term if elected in 2027.
Mr Kwankwaso explained that the documents comprised a formal agreement involving the political party and a separate personal accord between himself and Mr Obi.
According to Mr Kwankwaso, the deal stipulates that the presidency will return to Northern Nigeria in 2031 upon the completion of an Obi-led administration’s four-year tenure, if elected next year.
“We have agreed to formalise it in writing,” Mr Kwankwaso stated. “We have executed one document for the party and another between the two of us,” he revealed during an appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today late on Monday.
He reiterated that Mr Obi would honour his pledge and resist pressure to seek a second term, expressing confidence in the former Anambra State governor, noting that his interactions had convinced him that he would respect the agreement.
“I personally believe him, and, based on what I now know about him, I do not believe he will change his mind when the time comes,” he said. “We are all gentlemen.”
Mr Kwankwaso added that he and Mr Obi would continue to collaborate after the proposed administration completes its term.
“The agreement is that after four years, we will continue to work together as a group, as a party, and as friends and brothers,” he said. “After our four-year term, from 2027 to 2031, power returns to the North. That is the consensus.”
The former defence minister did not state that he would be the NDC presidential candidate in 2031; his comments referred broadly to the presidency returning to the North, rather than to his personal political ambitions.
Mr Obi has repeatedly pledged to serve only one term if elected; however, he has yet to publicly confirm the specific details of the documents described by Mr Kwankwaso.
In the 2023 Presidential polls, Mr Obi was the Labour Party presidential candidate while Mr Kwankwaso contested on the platform of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP).
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
Over 1.14 million hectares of degraded land have been restored by the Nigerian government, with more than 1.5 million trees planted across the country in the past year.
This information was revealed by the Minister of Environment, Mr Balarabe Abbas Lawal, at the 2026 Top Management Retreat and National Tree Planting Campaign in Maiduguri, Borno State.
He said these achievements were made through initiatives of the federal government like the Agro-Climatic Resilience in Semi-Arid Landscapes (ACReSAL) project and the National Agency for the Great Green Wall.
According to him, the restoration of the land and the planting of trees demonstrate a clear national commitment to securing environmental sustainability while advancing economic growth.
The Minister reemphasised that the environment is not an abstract concept, pointing out that “it is the air we breathe, the land that feeds us, the rivers that sustain communities, and the climate that shapes the future.”
He praised Governor Babagana Zulum of Borno State for his giant strides in the environment sector in the state, urging other state governors to emulate him by providing sponsorship for their students to the various Federal Colleges of Forestry Resources Management institutions located across the six geo-political zones of the country to encourage and boost Forest education in the country.
He described the decision of Mr Zulum to sponsor 540 indigenes of the state to a forestry college in Maiduguri as commendable.
Mr Lawal also informed the participants of the programme that the Presidential Executive Order on the Prohibition of Exportation of Wood and Allied Products, 2025, is a key policy instrument under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying it protects Nigeria’s forest resources, curbs illegal logging, and encourages tree planting as a national duty.
He pledged the Federal Ministry of Environment’s continued partnership with state governments on afforestation, ecosystem restoration, and other interventions tailored to their needs.
“Nigeria’s environmental future can be secured by protecting natural heritage, strengthening climate resilience, and advancing inclusive and sustainable development for present and future generations,” he declared.
