Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday visited the site of a major fire that gutted the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, and affected several adjoining structures.
The blaze, which started around 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, is believed to have originated from the fourth floor before rapidly spreading upwards and laterally to nearby buildings, including the seven-storey Radio Nigeria building, the busy Oluwole Plaza, a mosque, and other commercial properties.
Emergency responders from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Federal Fire Service battled the inferno for over ten hours, with flames continuing into Christmas morning.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, confirmed the visit, stating: “Mr Governor is at the scene for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation.” Accompanying footage showed Sanwo-Olu walking through debris-littered streets alongside firefighters and emergency officials.
Earlier on Thursday, LASEMA spokesperson Nosa Okunbor provided an update, noting that the fire had been contained but that twelve people were affected in total. Seven adult males sustained burn injuries of varying severity and were treated by paramedics before being transferred to nearby hospitals. Five others suffered from smoke inhalation and received immediate on-site medical attention.
“The adjoining buildings in proximity to the high-rise have largely been salvaged, and coordinated efforts continue to ensure the inferno is completely extinguished,” Okunbor said. “The seven-storey Radio Nigeria building opposite the Great Nigeria Insurance House has been safely extinguished by emergency responders, and dampening-down operations are ongoing.”
The incident has renewed concerns over fire safety in Lagos, particularly in densely populated commercial districts during festive periods, when electrical usage is often high and many buildings are closed or under reduced supervision. Authorities have yet to determine the exact cause of the fire.