As part of post-trauma rehabilitation, the management of Afriland Properties Plc, owners of Afriland Towers, has said that it has put in place grief counselling, flexible work arrangements, and dedicated support channels for employees directly affected by the recent fire incident at the towers on Broad Street, Lagos.

This was contained in a statement signed by Chukwunonso Okafor, head, Brand, Marketing and Corporate Communications of the company.

The company also said that it has learned a great lesson from the fire incident.

Okafor, who also addressed a number of issues arising from the incident, touched on the time it would take the staff to return to the affected building.

?The building will undergo a full structural, safety, and regulatory review before anyone is asked to return. Staff welfare and confidence remain paramount, and alternative arrangements will continue until the building is certified completely safe,? he said.

On the support being provided to the staff who are mourning their colleagues, Okafor said: ?We are prioritising the well-being of all staff. This includes precautionary medical evaluations, structured assistance during this grieving period, and counselling support. In addition, management is reviewing long-term support mechanisms to ensure our people are cared for and valued.?

He also explained that the building was insured, explaining that ?The responsible officers are currently reviewing the details, and we are also awaiting the official report, which will guide the next steps.?

On steps being taken to ensure the incident does not recur, he said: ?We are undertaking a comprehensive safety review of Afriland Towers and all our managed facilities. This includes working with independent fire safety experts, regulatory agencies, and insurers to ensure elevated safety protocol even beyond regulatory requirements.

?The building will remain closed until it undergoes thorough safety audits, deep post-fire cleaning, and any necessary reconstruction or system upgrades. Additional measures will also be implemented to restore the environment and ensure it is fully habitable. Re-occupation will only take place once the building has been certified safe by the relevant authorities.?

Speaking on lessons Afriland Properties has learned from this incident, Okafor said: ?There are invaluable lessons that will not only help prevent a recurrence but also provide guidance and support to other organisations in strengthening their disaster prevention measures.

?We are working closely with all regulatory agencies, and their findings will shape the next phase of corrective measures. We value and welcome their oversight.

?Our other properties continue to operate safely. However, we are proactively reviewing all facilities under our management to ensure they meet the highest safety standards. This incident will strengthen our commitment to safety across our portfolio.? (BusinessDay)

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