A 52-year-old man has lost his life in a late-night fire that destroyed a short-let apartment building along Coca-Cola Road in Ilorin, the Kwara State capital.
The incident occurred at about 11:38 p.m. on Thursday in the Lafia Hotel area, a busy part of the city known for hotels, shops and residential buildings. The fire completely gutted a building used for short-let purposes, leaving all rooms badly damaged.
The tragedy has raised fresh concerns about electrical safety and fire prevention measures in rental properties, especially short-let apartments that are becoming more common in major Nigerian cities.
In a statement issued on Friday, the Public Relations Officer of the Kwara State Fire Service, Hassan Adekunle, confirmed the incident and gave details of the response.
“The Kwara State Fire Service responded to a fire outbreak at Lafia Hotel, Coca-Cola Road, Ilorin, at about 23:38hrs on Thursday, 27th February 2026,” the statement read.
According to the agency, the building was not a conventional residential home but an apartment used for short-let services. The structure consisted of two flats, each containing three bedrooms. All the rooms in the building were affected by the fire.
Preliminary investigation by the fire service indicated that the blaze was likely caused by a power surge. Officials said the fire reportedly started immediately after electricity supply was restored to the area.
In many parts of Nigeria, sudden restoration of electricity after an outage can cause voltage spikes, which may damage electrical appliances and wiring. If wiring is faulty or overloaded, it can easily trigger a fire.
The fire service said the building was heavily filled with smoke at the time of the outbreak, making it very difficult for occupants to escape.
The agency confirmed that one male victim, believed to be about 52 years old, died in the incident. His identity had not been officially confirmed as of the time of filing this report.
“Tragically, one life was lost in the incident; an unidentified male, estimated to be about 52 years of age,” the statement said.
Residents in the area said they noticed thick smoke coming from the building late at night and raised the alarm. Some neighbours attempted to help before firefighters arrived, but the smoke and flames made it hard to enter the building safely.
Firefighters from the Kwara State Fire Service arrived at the scene shortly after receiving a distress call. They deployed three fire appliances to battle the blaze. The Federal Fire Service also provided additional support.
Officials said the fire was brought under control within minutes, preventing it from spreading to nearby buildings. However, by the time the flames were extinguished, the structure had already been badly damaged.
Short-let apartments have become increasingly popular in cities like Ilorin, Abuja, Lagos and Port Harcourt. They are often rented out for a few days or weeks, especially to visitors, business travellers and people attending social events.
While the business provides income for property owners, safety experts warn that some operators may not always follow strict safety standards. Unlike hotels, which are usually subject to regular inspections and safety regulations, some short-let apartments operate without proper monitoring.
The Director of the Kwara State Fire Service, Alabi Muhammed, expressed deep concern over the loss of life. He urged property owners, especially those running short-let apartments, to prioritise electrical safety.
He advised landlords to ensure that their buildings are properly wired and fitted with protective devices such as circuit breakers and surge protectors. He also recommended regular inspection of electrical installations by qualified professionals.
Fire outbreaks linked to electrical faults are common in Nigeria. Poor wiring, substandard materials and overloading of power sockets are frequent causes. In some cases, buildings lack basic fire safety equipment such as smoke detectors and fire extinguishers.
The Kwara State Fire Service also advised residents to report fire outbreaks quickly and avoid trying to handle large fires on their own.
Residents of the Lafia Hotel area were still in shock on Friday morning as they assessed the damage. Some described the incident as one of the most serious fire outbreaks in the area in recent years.
Shop owners nearby said they were grateful that the fire did not spread to other buildings, which could have caused more casualties and losses.
The body of the deceased has been taken away, and further investigation is expected to confirm the exact cause of the fire.
For many residents, the incident serves as a painful reminder of the importance of safety measures in homes and rental properties.
As authorities continue their investigation, fire officials are urging members of the public to take preventive steps seriously, especially during periods of unstable power supply.
