The blaze broke out just before 1 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, in the basement inverter room of the six-storey Afriland Tower building, which houses multiple offices. Thick smoke spread rapidly through the upper levels, forcing workers to escape through windows and balconies.
The protesters, including elderly men and women, say that 75 per cent of retired workers currently survive on a monthly pension of ₦15,000—a sum they regard as wholly insufficient, especially when compared to the national minimum wage set at ₦70,000. They insist the pension should be adjusted to at least ₦60,000.
Fatalities and collapses are preventable. Best practices in training, materials, and regulation are redefining construction safety in 2025—and they must be enforced at home.
