The Lagos State government has announced plans to demolish the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building and some surrounding structures following the deadly fire outbreak that razed the facility on December 24.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed this in a post on his X account on Friday, warning residents and business owners that the area around the GNI building remains unsafe and restricted.

According to the governor, eight people lost their lives in the inferno, with five victims already identified, while three remain unidentified. He added that thirteen people have been rescued so far.

Speaking at the scene of the incident, Sanwo-Olu stressed that activities around the site must cease immediately to prevent further loss of lives.

“No business or unauthorized activity should be taking place there. The area remains unsafe, and only first responders are permitted on the site.”

He explained that emergency officials are still combing through the debris to ensure no one remains trapped.

“Emergency teams continue to work carefully through the rubble, particularly at the rear of the building, to ensure no one remains trapped,” he added.

The governor said a structural assessment of the facility has made demolition inevitable, noting that nearby buildings would also be affected in the interest of public safety.

Today, I was at the site of the Great Nigeria Insurance building, which was destroyed by fire on December 24. My deepest sympathies remain with the families who lost loved ones and with everyone whose homes and businesses were affected. I know that no words can fully ease the… pic.twitter.com/BmOCQs6UeZ

— Babajide Sanwo-Olu (@jidesanwoolu) January 2, 2026

“Following a full structural review, the GNI building will be demolished using the safest possible methods. Some surrounding buildings must also be removed. While these are difficult decisions, we must prioritize the safety of lives above all else,” he said.

Sanwo-Olu assured Lagos residents that the state government would manage the recovery process responsibly and provide support to families affected by the tragedy.

“My heart is with every family affected. Safety must come first,” he said.

Previously, SaharaReporters reported that Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, expressed deep sadness over the fire incident that occurred at the Great Nigeria House, describing the tragedy as painful and devastating to those affected.

In a statement shared via his official X handle on Thursday, December 25, 2025, the governor said, “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.”

Sanwo-Olu disclosed that he visited the Balogun area to carry out an on-the-spot assessment of the damage caused by the inferno, noting that the scale of loss could not be fully captured through written reports alone.

The fire at the Great Nigeria House, located in the Balogun area of Lagos Island, has generated widespread concern, as authorities continue investigations into the cause of the incident.

Last week Wednesday, SaharaReporters reported that Commercial activities around Martins Street on Lagos Island were thrown into uncertainty as emergency responders battled a major fire outbreak at the Great Nigeria Insurance House, a high-rise building widely used for warehousing clothing materials.

The fire, which reportedly broke out at about 5pm on Wednesday, engulfed parts of the multi-storey plaza, raising concerns over the safety of goods stored in the building and the fate of occupants as rescue operations continued late into the evening.

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirmed that the inferno originated from the upper section of the building, though its exact cause remains unclear.

According to him, “Upon arrival of the Shark Response Team at the scene, a 22-storey building (Great Nigeria Insurance House) was found to have been engulfed by fire.

“Preliminary investigation conducted by the Shark Response Team revealed that the fire started from one of the apartments on the fourth floor and quickly gained momentum, spreading to other parts of the floor and escalating upwards to the sixth floor within the 22-storey building.”

He added that the evolving nature of the emergency made it difficult to determine the human impact at the time of reporting.

“Currently, the number of casualties cannot be ascertained, as firefighting operations are still ongoing.”

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service also confirmed its involvement in containing the blaze, noting that the fire affected several floors of the structure used largely for storage and commercial purposes.

The Controller-General of the agency, Margaret Adeseye, said firefighters were working to prevent further spread, while reassuring the public that no loss of life had been reported.

For Advert, Event Coverage/Press Conference Invite, Story/Article Publication & Other Media Services
Contact Us On WhatsApp
Send Email To: citizennewsng@gmail.com
Visit Citizen NewsNG To Read More Latest and Interesting News Across Nigeria and the World