Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has confirmed that eight people died in the fire that gutted the 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Building on Martins Street, Lagos Island, on Christmas Eve. Speaking during an on-the-spot assessment on Friday, the governor said 13 people were rescued alive, while search and recovery efforts confirmed eight fatalities.
Describing the incident as tragic, Sanwo-Olu led officials in a minute of silence for the victims and attributed the fire outbreak to human error. He said several adjoining buildings on Martins, Shitta and Breadfruit streets were affected, with multiple generators discovered on different floors of nearby plazas, warning that such practices heighten fire risks and endanger lives.
The governor said the state would take decisive action, including demolishing any structure that fails integrity tests after technical assessments. He warned residents and traders to stay away from the area ahead of a phased demolition and urged the public to prioritize safety over property. LASEMA has opened a help desk to document missing persons and support affected families.