Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has directed the immediate demolition of the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building on Martins Street, Marina, after a devastating fire severely damaged the structure and nearby properties.
The governor, who addressed journalists at the scene on Thursday, December 25, 2025, explained that the blaze began on Wednesday from the fourth and fifth floors of the 25-storey building before rapidly spreading upward. He said the scale and intensity of the fire were worsened by the building’s conversion from an office complex into a large-scale warehouse storing highly flammable and combustible materials.
Sanwo-Olu noted that the GNI building had recorded multiple fire incidents in recent years, adding that authorities had repeatedly raised concerns over its misuse as a storage facility rather than for its approved office purpose.
According to him, emergency responders—including the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Emergency Response Team, and neighbourhood safety officials—arrived within 15 to 20 minutes of the outbreak. They were later reinforced by the Federal Fire Service, the Nigerian Ports Authority, and other organisations with firefighting capacity.
The governor confirmed that no fatalities were recorded, while between seven and ten people were rescued and taken to hospital by LASEMA ambulances. However, the fire caused two partial collapses within the main building and inflicted extensive damage on at least two neighbouring structures, with three others partially affected due to the dense nature of the area.
Sanwo-Olu said although the main fire had been largely brought under control, pockets of flames were still being extinguished, with efforts ongoing to prevent further spread to adjoining buildings.
He announced the immediate setting up of a committee, to be chaired by the Commissioner for Special Duties, to advise the state government on the safest and fastest way to demolish the entire building in the coming days.
Commending emergency responders for their overnight efforts, the governor acknowledged the challenges posed by congestion, limited access, and water supply on Lagos Island. He reaffirmed the state government’s resolve to strictly enforce safety regulations, especially in high-density commercial districts, to avert similar incidents in the future.