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 Adedapo Adesanya
The Ministry of Finance has directed all shipping companies and airlines operating in Nigeria to submit their manifests through the Single Window Project (SWP) as part of efforts to strengthen cargo tracking and transparency.
The submission of shipping manifests before the change of policy was handled exclusively by the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) for onward cargo processing and port clearance.
However, following a memo from late last year signed by the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr Wale Edun, all shipping firms and airlines were directed to integrate with the National Single Window platform to ensure seamless Manifests submission.
“I would like to bring to your attention that His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu inaugurated the National Single Window (NSW) Project on the 16th of April 2024.
The NSW Project aims to streamline and automate import and export processes at Nigeria’s entry & exit ports, with the dual goals of enhancing trade facilitation and increasing government revenue.
“By integrating the operations of multiple government agencies involved in trade processes on one platform, the NSW platform will ensure faster clearance of goods and services, improve operational efficiencies at the imports and significantly reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks.
“Key components of the Single Window as defined by the World Trade Organisation (WTO) and World Customs Organisation (WCO) include: (a) a single-entry point i.e. traders, shipping lines, airlines and other stakeholders should submit all required import and export documentation through a single-entry point on a centralized digital platform, and (b) single submission i.e. all documentation should only be submitted once and data only entered once.
“As a result, the NSW Platform will be the single-entry point of submission for all Sea and Air Manifests. Therefore, all shipping lines and airlines are therefore directed to integrate with the NSW Platform to ensure seamless Manifests submission,” parts of the memo read.
The Comptroller-General of the NCS, the chairman of the Nigerian Revenue Service (NRS), the Managing Director of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), the Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and the Director General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) were copied in the memo.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The petition written against the immediate past chief executive of the Midstream Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed, which was withdrawn from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), has now been taken to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
The letter was written by the chairman of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), Mr Aliko Dangote. It contained allegations of allegations of abuse of office and corrupt enrichment against Mr Ahmed.
The petition led to the resignation of the former NMDPRA chief from office last month.
It was gathered that Mr Dangote, through his legal representative, filed a formal corruption petition against him at the headquarters of the EFCC, with specific plea of prosecuting Mr Ahmed if found culpable.
The businessman said the withdrawal of the petition from the ICPC was a strategic move aimed at accelerating the prosecution process.
In the petition signed by his lead counsel Mr O.J. Onoja (SAN), Mr Dangote noted that, “We make bold to state that the commission is strategically positioned along with sister agencies to prosecute financial crimes and corruption related offences, and upon establishing a prima facie case, the courts do not hesitate to punish offenders. See Lawan v. F.R.N (2024) 12 NWLR (Pt. 1953) 501 and Shema v. F.R.N. (2018) 9 NWLR (Pt.1624)337.”
He further urged the anti-money laundering agency, under the leadership of Mr Olanipekun Olukoyede, “…to investigate the complaint of Abuse of Office and Corruption against Engr. Farouk Ahmed and to accordingly prosecute him if found wanting.”
“The commission’s firm resolve in handling this matter with dispatch is not only imperative and expedient but will also serve as a deterrent to other public officers out there with such corrupt proneness and tendencies,” he added.
Recall that on December 14, 2025, Mr Dangote raised concerns about Mr. Ahmed’s financial dealings, alleging that the former regulator is living far beyond his legitimate means.
According to him, four of Mr Ahmed’s children attended elite secondary schools in Switzerland, incurring costs running into several millions of dollars—an expenditure that raises questions about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum industry.
Mr Dangote listed the schools attended by Mr. Ahmed’s children: Faisal Farouk (Montreux School), Farouk Jr. (Aiglon College), Ashraf Farouk (Institut Le Rosey), and Farhana Farouk (La Garenne International School), noting that each child spent six years in these institutions. He estimated annual tuition, travel, and upkeep per child at $200,000, totaling approximately $5 million for their secondary education.
Additionally, he alleged that Mr Ahmed spent another $2 million on tertiary education for the four children, including $210,000 for Faisal’s 2025 Harvard MBA program.
“Nigerians deserve to know the source of these funds, especially when many parents in Mr Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto struggle to pay as little as N10,000 in school fees,” Mr Dangote stated.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Nigerian author, Ms Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, and her husband, Dr Ivara Esege, have lost one of their twin sons, Nkanu Nnamdi.
According to a statement issued on Thursday by Ms Omawumi Ogbe, on behalf of the family, the 21-month-old baby passed away on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, after a brief illness.
The statement said the family is devastated by the loss, and requested that their privacy be respected during this difficult time.
“We’re deeply saddened to confirm the passing of one of Ms Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie and Dr Ivara Esege’s twin boys, Nkanu Nnamdi, who passed on Wednesday, 7th of January 2026, after a brief illness. He was 21 months old.
“The family is devastated by this profound loss, and we request that their privacy be respected during this incredibly difficult time.
“We ask for your grace and prayers as they mourn in private.
“No further statements will be made, and we thank the public and the media for respecting their need for seclusion during this period of immense grief,” the statement read.
Ms Adichie is known for works including Half of a Yellow Sun, Americanah and her 2012 Ted Talk and essay We Should All Be Feminists, which was sampled by Beyoncé on her 2013 song Flawless.
The 48 year old writer had her first child, a daughter, in 2016. In 2024, her twin boys were born using a surrogate.
In 2020, her 2006 novel Half of a Yellow Sun was voted the best book to have won the Women’s Prize for Fiction in its 25-year history.
Her latest book, Dream Count, was published in 2025.
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