A major fire outbreak on Wednesday gutted the 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Building on Martins Street, Lagos Island, prompting Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urge residents to remain calm as emergency responders continued rescue and containment efforts.
As of press time, no casualties had been recorded, while the cause of the fire remained unknown. Emergency agencies were still carrying out safety checks at the scene.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who has been monitoring the incident since it was reported, directed the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service to intensify operations and ordered the evacuation of nearby buildings to safeguard the public. He is also expected to visit the site for an on-the-spot assessment.
According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA), a distress call was received at 4:41 p.m., with fire crews from Ebute Elefun and Dolphin fire stations responding immediately. Additional support came from the Sari Iganmu Fire Station and the Alausa headquarters, with firefighters arriving at the scene within 12 minutes.
Preliminary findings indicate that the fire started on the fifth floor of the building before spreading to other levels. The structure, once used as office space, currently serves mainly as a warehouse and retail outlet for clothing materials.
In a statement on Thursday, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotosho, said the governor remained in constant communication with emergency responders and security agencies throughout the night. He noted that as of 3:40 a.m., when the fire had largely subsided, Sanwo-Olu was still issuing directives.
“The governor specifically instructed that no individual must be left behind in the building, emphasizing that the safety of lives takes precedence over property,” Omotosho said. He added that security agencies have cordoned off the area while responders continue safety assessments to prevent secondary incidents.