Eight Confirmed Dead as Lagos Moves to Pull Down Unsafe Buildings After Island Inferno
Lagos State Government has confirmed the death of eight persons in the Christmas Eve fire outbreak that gutted the 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Building on Martins Street, Lagos Island, as authorities move to enforce stricter safety actions, including the removal of structurally unsafe buildings around the affected area.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed this on Friday during an inspection of the fire-damaged high-rise, nine days after the incident, when remnants of fire were still observed within the structure.
He said emergency responders rescued 13 people alive from the building, while search and recovery operations later established eight fatalities.
Describing the incident as a painful tragedy, the governor and members of his delegation observed a minute of silence in honour of the victims.
He attributed the outbreak to human error and warned that negligence and disregard for safety standards in buildings would no longer be tolerated.
Sanwo-Olu revealed that the fire also impacted adjoining structures along Martins Street as well as Shitta and Breadfruit streets.
According to him, investigations uncovered the presence of multiple power-generating sets installed on different floors of nearby commercial buildings, a practice he said significantly heightened fire risks in the area.
He stated that the government would take firm decisions after technical integrity tests, stressing that any structure found to be unsafe would be demolished to prevent future disasters.
Residents, traders and pedestrians were cautioned to stay away from the vicinity, as plans were underway for a phased and controlled demolition of the affected building, while safety agencies continue to secure the environment.
The governor also urged business owners to prioritise personal safety during emergencies, noting reports that some victims had initially escaped but later returned to retrieve goods and were subsequently trapped.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has established a help desk at the scene to document cases of missing persons linked to shops and businesses affected by the fire.
The agency is coordinating with other responders to ensure accurate records and provide necessary support to impacted families.
The inspection team included the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr Gbenga Omotoso; Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr Gbenga Oyerinde; Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu; General Manager of the Lagos Command and Control Centre, Mr Femi Kennedy-Giwa, alongside other senior officials.
As of Friday, Martins Street remained closed to commercial activities, with security operatives and emergency personnel maintaining a strict cordon. The state government assured residents that updates would be issued as recovery operations and structural evaluations progress.
