NLC seeks independent probe into Lagos UBA blaze, market fires
The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has called for an independent investigation into the recent fire at the United Bank for Africa (UBA) Afriland building and other market infernos on Lagos Island.
In a statement signed by Acting President Prince Adewale Adeyanju on Thursday, the NLC lamented the loss of at least six lives in the 16 September blaze and described the sight of workers leaping from windows to escape as “disheartening”.
“Our grief is worsened by the fresh memory of another devastating fire in the same axis, which destroyed warehouses and goods worth billions,” the statement said.
“These fires are not accidents of fate but products of systemic rot, institutional negligence and disregard for safety standards that expose citizens to needless deaths.”
The union questioned the absence of adequate precautions. “Were there safety measures in the building design? Were workers trained? Where were crisis management teams?” it asked.
It further condemned recurring market fires in Lagos, describing them as an “annual ritual” that authorities have failed to prevent.
“In Lagos, we see fires without water, collapsing buildings without rescue, and citizens left without emergency response. Why do agencies budget billions annually yet arrive unprepared?” the NLC asked.
The congress demanded:
- Independent investigations into the fires
- Compensation for victims
- Mandatory enforcement of safety standards
- Adequate funding for emergency services
“No worker should leave home for work and end up in the morgue because of preventable disasters,” the statement added.
The NLC also praised NEMA for flood alerts but urged proactive evacuations and long-term solutions, especially regarding water releases from Cameroon.
It warned against reducing tragedies to statistics: “The blood of the workers cries out for justice.”
The statement concluded by urging Nigerians not to normalise tragedies but to demand institutions that protect lives and guarantee safety.
