Fire guts Lagos insurance building on Christmas eve
A fire ravaged sections of the Great Nigeria Insurance House situated on Martins Street, Lagos Island, on Christmas Eve, causing damage estimated in millions of naira.
The fire, which broke out on Wednesday evening, incited fear among locals as occupants of the affected building and residents of nearby properties hurried to escape.
At the time of this report, no injuries or fatalities had been reported as a result of the incident.
Eyewitnesses noted that the fire ignited around 5pm, producing thick smoke that billowed from the high-rise building, drawing the eye of onlookers and business operators in the bustling Lagos Island area.
Emergency services were swiftly informed as the flames quickly spread throughout the structure, raising alarms about the safety of adjacent buildings.
Members of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, along with other emergency organizations, promptly rushed to the site and began efforts to extinguish the flames.
The Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, confirmed the event by stating, “Upon receiving the distress call at 16:41 hours, firefighters arrived on site at 16:53 hours to tackle the raging fire.”
She also mentioned, “The incident occurred at The Great Nigeria Insurance House, Martins Street, Lagos Island.”
Adeseye revealed that the fire had extended to multiple levels within the building, explaining, “The fire is currently affecting up to the fifth floor of a 25-storey building. It began on the fifth floor and has spread downwards from that point.”
Further investigations indicated that the damaged structure primarily serves as a warehouse for storing and selling clothing materials while also housing several corporate offices and a number of retail stores.
The nature of the materials housed within the building is thought to have greatly contributed to the fire's severity.
Adeseye added that firefighting efforts were still ongoing at the time of reporting, emphasizing that, “There has been no casualties recorded as firefighting progresses as of this report.”
Authorities have since restricted access to the area to aid emergency operations and ensure the safety of the public, while inquiries into the fire's origin are expected to begin once the situation is entirely under control.
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