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Governor commends emergency responders as LASEMA confirms blaze contained
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday visited the scene of a major fire outbreak at the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, following reports that seven people were hospitalised with burn injuries.
The inferno, which broke out around 5:00 p.m. on Christmas Eve, reportedly started on the fourth floor of the high-rise building before spreading to several other floors and nearby structures.
According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the fire affected adjoining buildings, including the seven-storey Radio Nigeria building, Oluwole Plaza, a mosque, and other surrounding structures within the densely populated Balogun area.
Firefighters Battle Blaze for Over 10 Hours
Emergency responders from LASEMA, the Federal Fire Service, and other agencies battled the blaze for more than 10 hours, with flames persisting into Christmas morning.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Governor Sanwo-Olu said he visited the area for an on-the-spot assessment to fully understand the scale of the damage.
“I am deeply saddened by the fire incident that occurred yesterday at the Great Nigeria House. My thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this tragedy,” the governor wrote.
“I went to Balogun today for an on-the-spot assessment to better understand the situation. No written report can truly reflect the pain or the full extent of this loss.”
Governor Commends Emergency Responders
Governor Sanwo-Olu also praised firefighters and emergency personnel for their swift and courageous response.
“I want to thank our firefighters, emergency responders, and all the agencies that worked tirelessly through the night to bring the fire under control. Their courage and dedication saved lives and prevented the damage from spreading further,” he said.
Casualties and Emergency Response Update
Providing an update earlier on Thursday, LASEMA spokesperson, Nosa Okunbor, confirmed that the fire had been contained, although dampening-down operations were ongoing to prevent a possible re-ignition.
He disclosed that seven adult males sustained varying degrees of burn injuries. They were initially treated by LASEMA paramedics before being transferred to nearby hospitals for further medical care.
Mr Okunbor added that five other individuals suffered smoke inhalation and were treated at the scene.
“The adjoining buildings in proximity to the high-rise have largely been salvaged, and coordinated efforts continue to ensure the inferno is completely extinguished,” he said.
He further confirmed that the fire at the Radio Nigeria building, located opposite the Great Nigeria Insurance House, had been successfully put out.
Growing Concerns Over Fire Outbreaks
The incident has once again raised public concern over the recurrence of fire outbreaks in densely populated areas of Lagos, particularly during festive periods, when commercial activities peak.
