Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has inspected the scene of the devastating fire that engulfed the 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, on Christmas Eve.
The blaze, which reportedly began on the fourth and fifth floors, rapidly spread through the building—now primarily used as a storage warehouse rather than office space.
Addressing reporters, the governor highlighted recurring safety concerns. “This building has had fire incidents in recent years.
Its conversion into warehousing on almost every floor, filled with inflammable materials, made firefighting extremely challenging,” Sanwo-Olu explained.
He noted the fire escalated after initial responders, equipped for ground-level fires, struggled to contain flames climbing higher floors.
The governor commended the coordinated response by 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 said.
Sanwo-Olu confirmed the building has suffered partial collapses and announced plans to demolish it.
“We have set up a committee led by the Commissioner for Special Duties to advise on the safest and quickest demolition method. This will happen within days,” he added.
He also warned about the risk to nearby structures, some heavily affected by the fire, and stressed ongoing efforts to safeguard surrounding buildings and evacuate residents.
Reflecting on seasonal risks, the governor urged public vigilance. “December through February remains a high-risk period due to dry weather conditions.
Fires become more frequent and intense, not only from carelessness but also because of the harmattan’s dryness. It is vital people avoid storing inflammable materials improperly.”
Sanwo-Olu concluded with a call for stronger fire safety awareness to prevent future disasters.
“We must learn from these incidents and increase advocacy to protect lives and properties, especially during the dry season.”
