Lagos, December 25, 2025 – Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has called on residents to remain calm following a major fire outbreak at the multi-storey Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, assuring that the situation is under control with no fatalities recorded.
In a statement issued on Thursday by the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, the governor disclosed that he has been closely monitoring the incident since it was reported on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025. He commended emergency responders for their swift and courageous efforts in containing the blaze.
“Lagosians should remain calm; the situation is under control,” Governor Sanwo-Olu stated, adding that security agencies have cordoned off the area while first responders continue safety assessments to prevent secondary incidents.
The fire, which erupted around 4:40 p.m. on Wednesday, reportedly started on a lower floor—preliminary reports suggest the fourth or fifth—and rapidly spread across multiple levels of the 22- to 25-storey commercial high-rise. The building, a popular plaza used primarily as warehouses and retail outlets for clothing materials, saw goods worth millions of naira destroyed.
Multi-agency emergency teams, including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Federal Fire Service, Nigeria Police, and paramedics, responded promptly. Firefighters arrived within minutes of the distress call and battled the inferno for hours, successfully preventing it from causing further widespread damage to adjoining structures.
According to an update from LASEMA on Thursday, the fire has been contained, with dampening-down operations ongoing to fully extinguish remaining hotspots. Seven adult males sustained varying degrees of burn injuries and were hospitalised, while five others were treated at the scene for smoke inhalation. Nearby buildings, including the seven-storey Radio Nigeria complex opposite the GNI House, Oluwole Plaza, and a mosque, were largely salvaged, though some were affected.
The cause of the fire remains under investigation, and Governor Sanwo-Olu has pledged continued government support, with plans for an on-the-spot assessment at the scene.
The Lagos State Government reiterated its commitment to public safety and urged residents to prioritise fire prevention measures in high-rise and commercial buildings.
Sanwo-Olu Urges Calm as Firefighters Contain Blaze at Great Nigeria Insurance House, Seven Injured
