Fire hits 22-storey building in Lagos Island

Emergency responders are battling a fire outbreak at the Great Nigeria Insurance House, a commercial plaza on Martins Street in Lagos Island, Lagos State.

The fire broke out at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday at the building, which is largely used as a warehouse for clothing materials.

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the fire started on the fourth floor of the 22-storey building before spreading to other levels.

According to him, preliminary findings by LASEMA’s Shark Response Team showed that the fire began in one of the offices on the fourth floor and quickly escalated, spreading upward to the sixth floor.

Read Also: UPDATED: At least five worshippers dead, 20 others wounded in Maiduguri suicide attack

“Upon arrival at the scene, our team found the Great Nigeria Insurance House engulfed by fire,” Oke-Osanyintolu said. “The fire started from one of the offices on the fourth floor and spread rapidly to other parts of the building.”

He added that rescue and firefighting operations were still ongoing, making it impossible to confirm the number of casualties at the time of reporting.

However, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service said it had not recorded any casualties.

In a separate statement, the agency’s Controller-General, Margaret Adeseye, said the fire affected up to the fifth floor of the building and originated from that level before spreading downward.

“The affected structure is mainly used for warehouse storage and the sale of clothing materials, with some corporate offices and shops within the premises,” Adeseye said. “There has been no record of casualties as firefighting continues.”

Emergency officials said investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing.

Oluwatosin Ogunjuyigbe is a writer and journalist who covers business, finance, technology, and the changing forces shaping Nigeria’s economy. He focuses on turning complex ideas into clear, compelling stories.

Join BusinessDay whatsapp Channel, to stay up to date