VIDEO: Sanwo-Olu visits fire-ravaged Lagos high-rise building

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu visits fire-ravaged high-rise building. Credit: Gboyega Akosile | X

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has visited the scene of a destructive fire that ravaged the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island.

The blaze, which erupted on Christmas Eve at about 5 p.m., reportedly originated from the fourth floor before spreading to other floors.

The fire also reportedly affected several nearby structures, including the seven-storey Radio Nigeria building, the popular Oluwole Plaza, a mosque and other adjoining buildings.

Emergency responders, including the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency and the Federal Fire Service, battled the inferno for more than 10 hours, with flames persisting into Christmas morning.

In a post on X on Thursday, Sanwo-Olu’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile, described the governor’s visit as part of a coordinated government response.

“Mr Governor is at the scene for an on-the-spot assessment of the situation,” Akosile said.

A video from the scene shared by the aide shows the governor walking through debris-strewn streets alongside firefighters.

Giving an update earlier on Thursday, LASEMA spokesperson Nosa Okunbor disclosed that while the fire had been contained, seven people suffered varying degrees of burn injuries.

He added that five others experienced smoke inhalation and were treated immediately at the scene.

Okunbor said, “The adjoining buildings in proximity to the high-rise have largely been salvaged, and coordinated efforts continue to ensure the inferno is completely extinguished.

“Seven adult males suffered varying degrees of burn injuries as a result of the inferno and were attended to by the agency’s paramedics before being taken to nearby hospitals for further medical attention.

“The seven-storey Radio Nigeria building opposite the Great Nigeria Insurance House has been safely extinguished by emergency responders, and dampening-down operations are ongoing.”

The incident has sparked concerns over the recurrence of fires in Lagos markets during holiday periods.