The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has confirmed that the fire outbreak at the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House, located on Martins Street, Lagos Island, has been brought under control.
In an official update issued on Wednesday by the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Mrs Margaret Adeseye, the agency disclosed that a distress call was received at about 4:41 p.m. concerning the 25-storey building at 45 Martins Street.
Fire crews from the Ebute Elefun and Dolphin Fire Stations were immediately deployed, with reinforcement from Sari Iganmu, Bolade and Isolo Fire Stations, as well as the Alausa Headquarters. First responders arrived at the scene at approximately 4:53 p.m.
Preliminary findings revealed that the fire originated from the fifth floor of the building. The structure is largely used as warehouse storage and sales outlets for clothing materials, alongside a few corporate offices and retail shops.
Mrs Adeseye stated that the intensity of the fire has been significantly curtailed, while firefighters are currently engaged in damping-down operations to extinguish remaining pockets of fire and fully conclude suppression efforts.
She confirmed that 10 persons, mostly males, were rescued alive, sustaining varying degrees of injuries, and are presently in stable condition.
The inferno also affected five adjoining buildings, with two partially damaged and three severely impacted, including the old Lagos Central Mosque.
According to the Fire Service, several operational challenges were encountered during the incident. These include poor storage practices involving highly combustible materials, which accelerated the spread of the fire, as well as crowd control and accessibility issues. The conjoined nature of the affected structures further facilitated fire propagation and complicated firefighting operations.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reassured residents of its commitment to safeguarding lives and property, urging the public to remain calm, cooperate with emergency responders and adhere strictly to safety advisories.
The agency added that further updates would be provided as necessary.
