Afriland Publishes Detailed FAQs On Towers Fire Incident

Following the tragic fire that broke out at Afriland Towers on Broad Street in Lagos Island during the week, the real estate company Afriland Properties Plc has released a detailed set of frequently asked questions (FAQs).

According to separate statements from the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) and United Capital Plc, 10 staff members perished in the fire.

The fire, which started in the basement inverter room of the building, forced the residents to take desperate steps like attempting to jump from the building’s windows.

The company has created a FAQ to address the incident in response to inquiries about the cause of the fire, including important concerns raised by the public.

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Afriland Properties Plc Responses to FAQs: &nbsp ,

  1. What set off the fire?

The inverter room in the Afriland Towers basement was where the fire started. Safety protocols were immediately in effect. However, the thick black smoke and intense heat quickly enveloped the basement, causing rapid spread throughout the structure.

  1. Why did your employees have to jump from windows to escape?

The smoke quickly spread throughout the structure, severely limiting visibility and preventing people from entering designated evacuation areas. Some occupants tried to escape through the windows in their attempts to get to safety under these challenging circumstances. Significant disorder was caused by the incident’s intensity, which hampered effective communication.

  1. Existing fire alarms, were they effective? Why did the fire start without going off?

Fire alarms and safety devices are present in the building. Some occupants indicated they heard the alarms, but others didn’t. This is being looked into. However, alarms are installed on all floors.

  1. Around 10:00 am, I can tell when the fire started. Why did the response time for ambulances and fire services take longer than three hours?

Around 1:20 p.m., the fire started. The first responders arrived about 20 minutes later, while the on-site fire champions activated the fire protocol. We sincerely appreciate their efforts, as well as the assistance of well-intentioned Nigerians who assisted in bringing the situation under control.

  1. What were the Towers’ fire evacuation plans in the event of a fire?

Afriland Towers has standard fire evacuation plans, regular drills, and documented safety procedures. Evacuation was incredibly challenging due to the quick spread of thick smoke, though.

  1. How come a building like this has no emergency exits and staff had to break windows to let in the smoke?

Two separate emergency staircases, one for each floor, and multiple exit points on the ground floor complete the design of the building. The use of these escape routes was severely hampered by the rapid spread of smoke, though.

  1. Why weren’t there fire sprinklers and smoke extractors in a building that was “sought to be facilities management company”?

Fire safety features, such as smoke extractors, fire reels, and extinguishers, are provided at Afriland Towers in accordance with federal and state fire service recommendations. It is crucial to remember that the fire originated where it was contained. Regularly, we work with safety regulators to make sure our buildings meet all occupancy requirements, as well as having valid certifications to do so.

  1. Were staff training sessions not regularly conducted to ensure that they knew what to do in fire incidents?

Yes, Afriland Towers’ safety culture includes fire drills. The fire service regularly conducts fire drills, and both the federal and state fire services annually certify building safety protocols. Additionally, each floor of the building has a dedicated fire warden who receives training annually.

  1. Given that Afriland and Heirs Holdings is their sister company, why was UBA’s initial statement so disparaging?

We think the initial statement was intended to stop misdirected emergency services because early reports incorrectly suggested the UBA head office was on fire. We extend our gratitude to their sincere explanations and sympathy expressions.

  1. What kind of support do you offer their families and how many casualties actually occurred?

Sadly, there were 10 fatalities, including Federal Inland Revenue Service employees and United Capital Plc employees. We send our sincere condolences to their families, and we work closely with the affected organizations to provide compassionate and practical support for the bereaved.

  1. What caused the casualties?

According to the information available, smoke inhalation was the primary cause of casualties.

  1. Are employees anticipated to leave the building, which almost nearly killed them?

Before anyone is asked to return, the building will go through a thorough structural, safety, and regulatory review. Priority is still given to staff safety, and alternative arrangements will be made until the building is fully safe.

  1. What assistance do you offer the depressed employees of your company?

All staff members’ well-being is a priority for us. This includes counseling, structured support during this time of grieving, and pre-hospital evaluations. Management is also reviewing long-term support plans to make sure our employees are treated and valued.

  1. Will insurance cover the losses if the building was insured?

Yes . The responsible officers are currently reviewing the details, and we are also awaiting the official report, which will set out the next steps.

  1. What steps are you currently taking to prevent this from occurring again?

We are conducting a thorough safety check of all of our managed facilities, including Afriland Towers. To ensure elevated safety protocol even beyond regulatory requirements, this includes working with independent fire safety experts, regulatory bodies, and insurers.

  1. What will Afriland Towers’ future hold?

The building will remain operational until all necessary reconstruction or system upgrades are completed, including thorough safety audits, thorough post-fire cleaning, and thorough inspections. Additionally, additional steps will be taken to restore the environment and make it habitable for all. Re-occupation of the building will only occur once the relevant authorities have granted it a level of safety.

  1. How does this affect Afriland’s ability to support its own employees directly?

We have established staff support channels, flexible work hours, and grief counseling. Our top priority is always the welfare of our staff, which is a time of mourning and healing.

  1. What lessons can be drawn from this incident for Afriland Properties?

There are valuable lessons that will aid other organizations in strengthening their disaster prevention strategies in addition to preventing a repeat of the same.

  1. How will Afriland approach regulators in the future?

Working closely with all regulatory bodies, our findings will guide the implementation of corrective measures going forward. We appreciate and applaud their oversight.

  1. Will Afriland’s other initiatives and activities be impacted by this?

Liverpool hold on against Everton after Gravenberch stunner opened derby

With a 2-1 win over Everton and a six-point lead at the top of the table, Liverpool extended their perfect Premier League start to keep their grip on the Merseyside derby.

The defending champions’ reward for a strong first half on Saturday was two goals from Ryan Gravenberch and Hugo Ekitike, making it their fifth Premier League victory in a row.

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After the break, however, Everton’s goal was saved by Idrissa Gana Gueye, who had given them no more room to breathe.

To win all four of their previous four Premier League games and their Champions League opener against Atletico Madrid in midweek, Arne Slot’s men needed late goals.

The Reds’ main focus was on their excellent work inside the first 30 minutes, leaving Everton with no win in front of a home crowd in the twenty-first century.

With the return of Alexis MacAllister along with Dominik Szoboszlai and the impressive Gravenberch in midfield, Slot left both his 100 million pounds ($135 million) plus signings Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak on the bench.

Just nine minutes into the game, the Dutch midfielder deftly completed Mohamed Salah’s cross on the half-volley.

A powerfully struck effort on Salah’s trusted left foot, which flew just wide, came close to a second moments later.

The resurrected Jack Grealish, who had led Everton for four games, had been instrumental in that success.

Unsurprisingly, the loanee from Manchester City was at the heart of the team’s best first-half move when he sent a pass through to Kieran Dewsbury-Hall, who fired wide from a close angle.

Ryan Gravenberch of Liverpool beat Jordan Pickford of Everton for their first goal.

Ekiti rolling Gravenberch’s pass through Jordan Pickford’s legs marked Liverpool’s fine team play as he scored his third goal in five Premier League games since joining Eintracht Frankfurt.

However, after being pegged by Bournemouth, Newcastle, and Atletico earlier this season, Liverpool almost lost control of the second half.

Just over 60 hours after Virgil van Dijk’s stoppage-time winner against Atletico on Wednesday, the intensity of the kickoff seemed to be a factor.

Just before the hour mark, when Grealish’s deep cross was reversed into Gueye’s path, who blasted past Alisson Becker, Everton found a lifeline.

With little success, Slot turned to Wirtz and Isak off the bench to try to regain control.

However, Liverpool did manage to watch a sleazy finale that gave Everton manager David Moyes an unwelcome reputation.

GB one-two in Tokyo 800m ‘would be coolest thing’

Reuters

Georgia Hunter Bell is fond of the comically large vest, which she recalls well.

As she passed everyone, both girls and boys, on the final lap, she knew she would win her first ever track race.

According to her mother, 800 meters in two minutes and 39 seconds was “pretty good” for a 10-year-old.

More than 20 years later, as Britain’s Olympic 1500m bronze medalist prepares to complete a full circle in search of another podium, everything is still vivid.

Just a few weeks before the World Championships in Tokyo started, she was still wrestling with the decision to stick with the 1500-meter run, switch to the 800-meter, or even attempt a rare double.

However, Hunter Bell’s decision to target the 800m in Tokyo has sparked a tantalizing gold-medal showdown with training partner Keely Hodgkinson in Sunday’s final (11: 35 BST), after making exciting progress this season in the event that initially showed great promise before she quit the sport for five years.

Hodgkinson and Hodgkinson met in August’s two-lap competition at the Lausanne Diamond League, where she won back-to-back titles while recovering from injury.

Hunter Bell stated to BBC Sport before the race that “this year will be the first year that it might be close.”

We practice a lot together, and our relationship is evidently excellent.

The coolest thing ever would be if Great Britain could win two out of three medals and [our training group] M11 could win one-two.

A 10-year-old Georgia Hunter Bell before her first track race over 800m Georgia Hunter Bell

Hunter Bell considered attempting an ambitious double because she was unsure of what competition to compete in Tokyo.

Only four women in history, including Dame Kelly Holmes, who Hunter Bell consulted before making her decision, have ever achieved podium positions in both the 800 and 1500 meters at a single World Championship.

As her decision-making deadline approached, her team even resorted to consulting Chat GPT on her behalf. She described the situation as “head versus heart.”

The verdict? The double is feasible but uncertain.

The 1500m in Tokyo preceded the 800m in Athens, which was a different Olympic event from when Holmes won twice at Athens in 2004.

In the end, Hunter Bell would have had to compete three 1500-meter rounds before the form that suggested she would have a better medal chance would have required her to complete the race in nine days.

Two weeks after Holmes’ second victory in Athens, Hunter Bell has made a long way since she proudly wore the colors of Ealing, Southall, and Middlesex in her first track race in 2004.

Georgia Hunter Bell holds a British flag after winning Olympic 1500m bronzePA Media

Hunter Bell hopes that’s just the beginning because this is her first full-time year of competing after quitting her seven-year cybersecurity position to take a summer sabbatical to pursue her Olympic ambition.

She claims that she is “still pinching myself” because of the seismic change.

Hunter Bell, who was previously coached by Trevor Painter and Jenny Meadows, who both won the 800m gold, has quickly made her a top middle-distance runner in the world.

Hunter Bell, a husband-and-wife team, added a world indoor 1500m bronze medal in March, while acknowledging how grateful she was for her “hard lesson” at the European indoors, where she started as favorite but fell short of a medal.

Trev had hoped to develop me into a world-class 800-meter athlete at first. Hunter Bell explains that to Hunter Bell.

“We were just doing the standard 1500 training this year, but Trevor and Jen noticed that I was looking significantly better in that when we started practicing for the speed stuff.”

Hunter Bell, a champion in the English schools and British universities, won the Diamond League 800m championships in Stockholm and London this year.

Hunter Bell always anticipated her team-mate’s best performance for the championships when making her final choice despite first-hand experience and assistance in Hodgkinson’s recovery from the hamstring injuries that have kept her out this year.

Hunter Bell describes Hodgkinson’s challenging year as “she has dealt with it really well.”

“It can be very difficult to get an injury,” says one person. We’ve all made it our mission to be truly supportive, and it’s just about trying to make it as positive as possible while also being realistic.

She continues, “Trev and Jenny are very jokey, they keep the training environment fun, and they handle the potentially awkward issue of two athletes competing for the same gold.” But it’s obvious that everything is business when we enter the track.

They always give their best advice to the individual athlete, and they always let the chips fall where they can.

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Strictly’s Tess and Claudia’s ‘unbreakable bond’ – ‘They don’t want this to end’

The sparkling co-hosts of Strictly as it rolls back, and as a source reports, the storms they’ve endured have only strengthened their bond.

They’ve weathered plenty of storms since their 2014 co-hosting debut(Image: PA)

It’s been rocked by one scandal after another, but one thing that has remained steady on Strictly Come Dancing is the unbreakable bond between hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. This year, as the BBC One dance show celebrates its 21st anniversary, the duo will be marking their 11th year as co-hosts. And their on-screen chemistry is as strong as ever. “Tess has such a strong bond with Claudia,” a source exclusively tells OK!.

They have great chemistry on the television and are great friends, both of whom are very career-driven. And they always have each other’s back. The fact that they are close friends off-screen helps the pair’s relationship on camera. Tess has frequently referred to Claudia as her “sister” and has frequently mentioned how much she enjoys hosting with her. She and her husband, Kris Thykier, have two children: Jake, 22, Matilda, 19, and Arthur, 14, along with her husband, Kris.

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Tess and Claudia holding bafta award
The pals have a pact that if they leave the BBC show, they go together(Image: Getty Images)

The mother-of-two said, “It always felt natural and right.” It’s a joy to stand next to someone because it feels like work when you really get on with them. It resembles a continuation of your friendship.

Tess, 56, and Claudia’s partnership blossomed after original co-host, the late Sir Bruce Forsyth, stepped down following the 2013 series. But the pair first met when Claudia, 53, started hosting spin-off show It Takes Two in 2004. “Tess had just had her little girl, Phoebe, and we started talking about our kids straight away,” she said.

After Sir Bruce left, Claudia was promoted to Saturday night co-host, but by then, she was already a regular on Sunday night’s results show. Before we began the main show together, we already had the experience of standing side by side on the Strictly floor, said Tess. “That seemed like a natural progression for us,” he said. It is cozy. Because you genuinely like the person, you can already feel the person’s vibe. That is always helpful.

Tess and Claudia
The gorgeous pair have been through a lot of ups and downs since their Strictly journeys began(Image: Getty Images)

Strictly has gained notoriety for its off-screen dramas but also for what takes place on stage, most notably the so-called “Strictly curse,” in which contestants frequently fall for their dance partners at the expense of their own relationships. Along the way, Tess and Claudia encountered some unique difficulties.

In October 2014, Claudia was forced to step back from hosting when her daughter Matilda was involved in a freak accident after her Halloween costume caught fire. Matilda, who was eight at the time, was treated for severe burns and Claudia – who described the experience as “life-changing” – understandably took time off.

Temporary co-host Zoe Ball joined Tess during her absence, where she shared daughters Phoebe, 20, and Amber, 16, with her husband, BBC Radio 2 DJ Vernon Kay, until Claudia was able to return to work three weeks later. Tess described her friend’s ordeal as “a hellish time.” Your child being involved in an accident is “every parent’s nightmare.”

In turn, Claudia is said to have been a rock for Tess when Vernon, 51, became embroiled in a sexting scandal with glamour model Rhian Sugden in 2010. “They’ve been through so much over the years and weathered so many scandals,” explains our source. “It’s made them stronger than ever.”

tess and claudia sat down in strictly studio
Tess says she and Clauds never have to ‘fake’ cameraderie(Image: Getty Images for the NTA’s)

Tess and Claudia have both stated that they do not want their Strictly partnership to end, but that they have a plan in place in case of emergency. In 2019, Claudia revealed that “Tess and I will leave at the same time.” We made a pizza-related pact. When they finish their time with us, we’ll go together.

Explaining their decision, our source says, “They can’t imagine doing Strictly without each other. Tess loves the show and it has made her career. For both of them, it’s like going to work with your best mate, so, dramas aside, it’s a win-win for them.” Claudia’s career has gone from strength to strength and she’ll soon be hosting the celebrity version of her other hit BBC show, The Traitors.

Thankfully, our source claims that Claudia “isn’t looking to give up” Strictly any time soon. She has said, “Tess helps and looks after me.” She is strong, funny, and beautiful. The emotion is mutual for Tess. She said, “I’m lucky to work with someone who truly cares.” “I adore her to pieces. She is my mate, so it’s lovely to spend time with her. This legendary partnership is unquestionably in place.

Continue reading the article.

Larry Lamb, 77, says he will never fully retire as he doesn’t want to ‘vegetate’

Larry Lamb, a favorite of Gavin andamp; Stacey, turns 78 next month, but he has no intention of quitting because he fears he’ll “send everyone potty,” despite his slowdown.

A proud Larry Lamb accepting the National Television Award for Gavin & Stacey (Image: Getty Images for the NTA’s)

Larry Lamb is best known for his roles as Archie Mitchell in EastEnders and dad Mick in the much-loved BBC sitcom Gavin & Stacey.

The veteran actor, who has appeared in the likes of Lovejoy, The Bill, A Touch of Frost, Casualty, Taggart, Spooks, and Midsomer Murders over the years, has no intention of slowing down at the moment, even though he might turn 78 in a few weeks on October 1.

For the finale series of Gavin &amp, Stacey, the TV legend, who didn’t begin his professional acting career until he was in his 40s, took to the stage last week to accept the Best Comedy award alongside co-star Alison Steadman and Ruth Jones.

He stated that this would be his last acting career because he wanted to “go out on a high” and spend more time with his family, which included his daughters Vanessa, 56, Eloise, 26, and Eva, 22. He also wants to spend more time with his four children, including TV presenter George Lamb, 45.

READ MORE: Gavin & Stacey stars reunite as Larry Lamb celebrates success of drastic career change

Larry Lamb with his TV presenter son George Lamb
Larry Lamb with his TV presenter son George Lamb(Image: Daily Mirror/Notebook )

However, Larry revealed in a new interview that he would still work because he didn’t want to “vegetate” and “send everyone potty” and would still do it in another capacity.

Speaking to The Daily Mail with his son George as part of the launch of Ecover’s first plastic-free dishwasher tablets, Larry shared: “I don’t want to just sit there and vegetate.

I’m a working-class bloke who believes that if he’s not busy doing something, that’s why so many working-class men and women just give up, unfortunately.

George, Larry’s son, said, “I think it’d be terrible if you retired.” I would drive everyone as well as myself round the bend, Larry said, “I’d always be looking for something to do.”

The cast of Gavin and Stacey in a promo photo for the finale.
Larry as Mick with the award-winning cast of Gavin & Stacey (Image: Tom Jackson/PA Wire)

After hanging up his acting boots, Larry has since written his first fiction collection, All Wrapped Up, about a movie being shot on a Caribbean island and all the ups and downs that come with it. Unless a role comes up that he can’t turn down, he has since turned to acting.

He’s also beginning to write poetry, and he’ll perform his first poetry performance in Hereford the following week.

He said, “I’m just reflecting on the old age, reflecting on the past, looking toward the future, and writing about it in poems and stories.”

But Larry says he has always been his favorite out of all his roles since he started playing Mick in Gavin &amp, Stacey between 2007 and 2024.

He said, “You become so drawn to these characters that they become your favorite at that time; they are your life’s focal point.” You must give the writers credit, though, for playing a character like Mick, who is beloved by millions of people, at this point in my career, Mick is the closest to my heart.

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He continued, “I’ve had a very fortunate career, I’ve accomplished so much that perhaps not so many people know. I’m really proud of it.” I have performed in 12 West End plays, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, all the major fringe theaters in London, on Broadway, and have had great fortune to have the opportunity to work with other actors in big roles.

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