Chairman of Afriland Properties Plc, Mr. Tony Elumelu, has been thrown into mourning by Tuesday’s fire incident at Afriland Towers on Lagos Island, saying that the disaster has left him shattered. Consequently, Elumelu cut short his trip to New York, USA, for the United Nations General Assembly and also directed that a minute’s silence be observed by staff of Heirs Holdings, of which Afriland Properties Plc is a part.

Elumelu said in an Internal Memo to Group Staff sighted by News Express: “I am shattered by yesterday’s devastating incident at Afriland Towers that took the lives of our dear colleagues.

“No words can capture the magnitude of this loss — not for their families who loved them, not for the friends who valued them, and not for those of us who worked beside them.

“Yesterday was a stark reminder of what truly matters: our irreplaceable people, those who walk through our doors each day and share our mission.

“I learnt of this on my way to the US, enroute to New York for UNGA. I have cut short my trip to return to Lagos as a mark of respect to our lost colleagues.

“As we navigate this grief, I urge you all to reach out to those who are receiving care.

“In the coming days, we will convene colleagues in a memorial to honour the memories of the departed, as we provide support to their families.

“I also want to thank all those who supported in one way or the other, from emergency responders and first aid workers to members of the public who showed courage and compassion.

“A minute’s silence will be observed today at12:00 noon, WAT, across all our group companies.

“May this never happen again in our Group. May the souls of the departed rest in perfect peace.”