A massive fire on Wednesday broke out at the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House located on Martins Street, Lagos Island, triggering a large-scale emergency response.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency confirmed the incident in a situation report shared with the public. According to the report signed by the agency’s Public Safety Officer, Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the fire originated from an apartment on the fourth floor of the building.
From there, the blaze rapidly spread to other sections of the same floor before advancing upward to the sixth floor, with officials noting its swift vertical movement through the structure. As of the time of the report, the number of casualties could not be confirmed, as firefighting and rescue operations were still ongoing.
Multiple emergency agencies were immediately mobilised to the scene, including LASEMA, the Lagos State Government Fire and Rescue Service, the Federal Fire Service, the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps, the Nigeria Police, the Red Cross, and LRU Paramedics.
Authorities disclosed that six fire trucks and a skylight were deployed to combat the inferno, while the LRU Fire team was also activated to support containment and rescue efforts within the high-rise building.
Emergency officials said recovery operations were in progress and assured residents and the public that further updates would be provided as the situation unfolds.
What you should know
The fire at the Great Nigeria Insurance House highlights ongoing concerns about fire safety in high-rise buildings on Lagos Island.
With emergency agencies still battling the blaze, the focus remains on containing the fire, preventing structural collapse, and ensuring the safety of occupants and responders.
Authorities have yet to confirm casualties, underscoring the fluid nature of the incident as rescue and recovery operations continue.
