Emergency services are intensifying efforts to combat a fierce fire that has engulfed the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House, a prominent commercial plaza on Martins Street in Lagos Island.
The inferno, which broke out around 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, reportedly originated from an office or apartment on the fourth or fifth floor before rapidly spreading upwards. The building, primarily used as a warehouse for clothing materials alongside corporate offices and shops, has seen the flames escalate to higher floors, triggering widespread panic among traders and occupants.
According to the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), preliminary assessments indicate the fire started on the fourth floor and quickly gained momentum, reaching the sixth floor. “Firefighting operations are still ongoing, and rescue efforts are in progress,” LASEMA Permanent Secretary Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu stated. He added that the number of casualties remains unconfirmed at this time.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service echoed similar reports, noting no recorded casualties so far while operations continue. Director Margaret Adeseye described the affected structure as housing significant stockpiles of textile goods, which likely fueled the blaze’s intensity.
Multiple agencies, including LASEMA’s Shark Response Team, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, and other responders, are on the scene battling the fire amid concerns that traders may be trapped inside.
The cause of the outbreak is yet to be determined, and authorities have urged the public to avoid the area to facilitate emergency access.
This incident marks another fire emergency in Lagos Island’s bustling commercial district this year. Updates will follow as the situation develops.
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