Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu visited the site of the massive fire that tore through the 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, on Christmas Eve
The fire, which reportedly started on the fourth and fifth floors, quickly spread throughout the building, now mainly used as a storage facility rather than offices.
Speaking to reporters, the governor pointed to recurring safety issues. “This building has had fire incidents in recent years. Its conversion into warehousing on nearly every floor, filled with flammable materials, made firefighting extremely challenging,” Sanwo-Olu said.
He added that the blaze intensified after first responders, equipped for ground-level fires, struggled to tackle flames reaching the upper floors.
The governor praised the coordinated efforts of the Lagos Fire Service, Lagos Emergency Response Team, Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Port Authority, and other agencies.
“Thankfully, no casualties have been reported, though several people were treated and taken to hospital,” he stated.
Sanwo-Olu confirmed the building has partially collapsed and announced plans for its demolition.
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