Posted in News

PHOTOS: Update Emerges on the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Building Fire Incident

Praise Ben

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service hereby provides a comprehensive update on the fire incident at the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Building, incorporating the most recent briefing by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu.

Following a second on-site assessment by Mr. Governor on January 2nd, 2025, the Lagos State Government has constituted a Technical Recovery and Demolition Committee, chaired by the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations.

The committee is tasked with developing and implementing a controlled and safe demolition plan for the affected structure and its immediate surroundings in the shortest possible time, while prioritising public and responder safety.

Current Situation on Ground

  • The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, alongside sister emergency agencies, remains fully deployed on-site.
  • The incident scene is highly sensitive and volatile, with substantial rubble still in place.
  • There are intermittent pockets of fire, primarily originating from combustible materials such as textiles and clothing stockpiled within the building, not from the structural elements of the building itself.
  • These materials are buried deep within the debris, and accessing them requires extreme caution and specialised technical planning.

It is important to clarify that:

  • The presence of these pocket fires does not pose immediate external danger; however, improper or hurried evacuation of debris could compromise the already weakened structure.
  • The fire has significantly weakened the building’s foundation, rendering it structurally unsafe and unfit for any use.
  • Some rubble may currently be providing unintended structural support, and removing it without a carefully sequenced plan could trigger a collapse, endangering first responders.
    For this reason, all operations are being conducted in line with global disaster response best practices, ensuring that rescuer safety precedes all other actions. As universally recognised in emergency management, disasters of this nature may take days, weeks, or even months to fully resolve.

Public Safety Advisory
The entire area remains unsafe for commercial or public activity.

  • The market and surrounding areas remain closed.
  • Only authorised first responders are permitted within the cordoned zone.
  • The public is urged to remain calm and cooperative, understanding that their safety is directly linked to the safety of emergency personnel.
    An Information Centre has been established at the site to address enquiries from families, stakeholders, and the general public.

Casualties

  • 8 fatalities have been confirmed (5 identified, 3 yet to be identified).
  • 13 persons have been successfully rescued.
  • Search operations continue, particularly in safer sections of the debris, to ensure no one remains trapped.

Preliminary Observations
Preliminary assessments indicate serious fire safety violations, including:

  • Overstocking of combustible materials from floor to ceiling with little or no ventilation.
  • Absence of proper fire safety infrastructure.
  • Unsafe market practices such as generator usage within buildings, shops constructed around transformers, and other hazardous activities.
    Such conditions can lead to self-generated heat build-up and spontaneous ignition, even without external triggers.

Global Context
For perspective, similar complex fire recovery operations have occurred worldwide. Notably, firefighting and recovery operations at the World Trade Center (Ground Zero) in New York lasted over 100 days, with underground fires officially extinguished nearly three months after the incident, and full recovery concluding more than eight months later. These realities underscore the complexity and time-intensive nature of large-scale structural fire incidents.

Conclusion
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reassures the public that all actions being taken are deliberate, professional, and safety-driven. Operations will continue until ground zero is fully reached, all risks are eliminated, and the incident is conclusively resolved.

We appreciate the patience, understanding, and cooperation of Lagosians during this period.

Your safety is our priority. A safe rescuer ensures a safe rescue.

Margaret Adeseye
Controller General
Lagos State fire and Rescue Service
January 3, 2026

Praise Ben

A designer and writer

You May Also Like

More From Author

How Poverty Increases Exposure To Safety Hazards Poverty does more than limit income. It quietly increases people’s exposure to danger and reduces their ability to avoid it. For millions of Nigerians and others across developing countries, unsafe living and working conditions are not choices. They are daily realities shaped by limited options. From a health and safety perspective, poverty is one of the strongest predictors of injury, illness and premature death. Globally, the World Health Organisation estimates that over 90 percent of injury related deaths occur in low and middle income countries. Road traffic injuries, fires, unsafe housing, occupational accidents and environmental health risks are far more common in poorer communities, not because people are careless, but because safer alternatives are often unavailable or unaffordable. Housing is one of the clearest examples. Low income families are more likely to live in overcrowded buildings, informal settlements or poorly constructed homes. These structures often lack proper ventilation, safe electrical wiring, fire exits or durable materials. According to UN Habitat, over one billion people worldwide live in slum conditions, where fire outbreaks, building collapse and disease spread are constant threats. When a fire breaks out in such environments, escape routes are limited and emergency response is delayed, increasing the risk of fatalities. Energy poverty also drives safety risks. Many households rely on generators, kerosene stoves, charcoal or firewood for cooking and power. The World Health Organisation reports that indoor air pollution from solid fuels causes about 3.2 million premature deaths each year globally. Prolonged exposure leads to respiratory diseases, heart problems, eye damage and increased stroke risk. In homes without adequate ventilation, these hazards become even more deadly. Poverty also shapes where people work. Low income workers are more likely to take high risk jobs in construction, transportation, mining, waste handling and informal industries. These jobs often lack proper safety training, protective equipment or regulatory oversight. The International Labour Organisation estimates that nearly 2.9 million workers die every year from work related injuries and diseases, with the highest burden in developing economies. Many injuries go unreported because workers fear job loss or lack access to healthcare. Transportation is another area where poverty increases exposure. People who cannot afford safer transport often rely on overcrowded buses, motorcycles or unsafe vehicles. Poor road infrastructure in low income areas further increases accident risk. Children from poorer households are also more likely to walk long distances along busy roads to school, exposing them to traffic injuries. Healthcare access plays a critical role. When injuries or exposure occur, people living in poverty are less likely to receive early treatment. Minor injuries become infections. Toxic exposure goes undiagnosed. According to the World Bank, out of pocket health costs push millions of people deeper into poverty each year, creating a cycle where illness and unsafe conditions reinforce each other. From an HSE standpoint, poverty turns everyday environments into high risk zones. It reduces the margin for error. When safety measures cost money, the poorest are forced to live without them. Addressing safety hazards therefore requires more than awareness campaigns. It requires safer housing policies, affordable clean energy, stronger workplace protections and accessible healthcare. Safety should not be a privilege reserved for those who can afford it. Until safety is built into systems, poverty will continue to quietly determine who is most likely to be injured, poisoned or killed while simply trying to survive.

How Poverty Increases Exposure To Safety Hazards

Yobe Water Transport Catastrophe: How Safety Failures Turned Deadly

Yobe Water Transport Catastrophe: How Safety Failures Turned Deadly

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *