- The raging fire later extended to nearby structures, leaving a trail of destruction across the busy commercial axis
- Footage shared online showed the governor moving through the affected area alongside emergency personnel, assessing the scale of damage
- He revealed that seven adult males sustained burn injuries, while five others suffered smoke inhalation
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday paid an on-the-spot visit to the site of the massive fire outbreak that gutted the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, as authorities intensified response and recovery efforts.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the inferno broke out on Christmas Eve around 5:00 p.m., reportedly starting from one of the lower floors of the high-rise before rapidly spreading to other levels of the building.
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The raging fire later extended to nearby structures, leaving a trail of destruction across the busy commercial axis.
Emergency agencies, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and the Federal Fire Service, were mobilised to the scene, battling the flames for over 10 hours as the fire persisted into the early hours of Christmas Day.
Several adjoining buildings, such as the Radio Nigeria complex, Oluwole Plaza, and a nearby mosque, were affected to varying degrees.
Governor Sanwo-Olu’s visit was confirmed in a social media update by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, who said the inspection was part of the state government’s coordinated emergency response.
Footage shared online showed the governor moving through the affected area alongside emergency personnel, assessing the scale of damage.
Providing an update on the incident, LASEMA spokesperson, Nosa Okunbor, disclosed that the fire had been largely brought under control.
He revealed that seven adult males sustained burn injuries, while five others suffered smoke inhalation and received immediate medical attention before being taken to nearby hospitals.
Okunbor added that swift intervention by responders helped prevent the fire from completely consuming surrounding buildings, noting that dampening-down operations were ongoing to eliminate any hidden embers.
The incident has once again raised public concern over frequent fire outbreaks in Lagos, particularly during festive periods, with renewed calls for stricter safety measures and improved emergency preparedness across commercial districts.
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