Chaos erupted at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) branch on Lagos Island on Tuesday when a massive fire broke out, forcing panicked staff and customers to flee for their lives.
The incident, which occurred around 2pm, sent thick black smoke billowing from the multi-storey structure believed to be located at Afriland Towers along Broad Street. Eyewitnesses reported scenes of pandemonium as employees leapt from windows and balconies to escape the inferno. Videos circulating online captured the dramatic moments, including one clip showing a staff member jumping from an upper floor while bystanders shouted in horror.
“The fire is spreading fast, and these people are jumping like their lives depend on it – because it does,” a nearby trader said. Social media users also shared footage, with one eyewitness tweeting at 2:21pm that the bank was “currently on fire.”
The cause of the blaze has not yet been confirmed, though sources at the scene suggested a possible electrical fault or generator malfunction, both common triggers of high-rise commercial fires.
Emergency services, including the Lagos State Fire Service and Federal Fire Service, were reportedly mobilised, but delays in response time drew sharp criticism from witnesses. Authorities have since cordoned off Broad Street and adjoining areas, urging motorists and residents to stay away.
This is not the first time a UBA facility has been hit by fire in Lagos. In 2018, a blaze razed the bank’s Victoria Island branch, while in 2020, its in-house fire unit played a role in containing an inferno at an Obalende filling station.
As firefighters battled to bring the flames under control, details about possible casualties or the extent of property damage remained unclear at press time.