Emergency responders are battling a major fire outbreak at the Great Nigeria Insurance House, a plaza located on Martins Street in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State.
The fire broke out at about 5 p.m. on Tuesday. The affected building serves mainly as a warehouse for clothing materials, alongside offices and shops.
Officials confirmed that firefighters arrived swiftly at the scene. However, flames had already spread across several floors of the high-rise structure.
Fire Starts From Upper Floor, Spreads Rapidly
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the fire started from one of the offices on the fourth floor.
According to him, the blaze escalated quickly and spread to other floors before emergency teams gained control.
“Upon arrival, our Shark Response Team found the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House engulfed by fire,” Oke-Osanyintolu said. “Preliminary findings show the fire started from the fourth floor and spread upward.”
Casualty Status Remains Unclear
Oke-Osanyintolu added that rescue and firefighting operations remain ongoing. Therefore, officials cannot yet confirm the number of casualties.
Meanwhile, firefighters continue efforts to contain the flames and prevent further damage to adjoining structures.
Fire Service Gives Update on Incident
In a separate statement, the Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said emergency crews had not recorded any casualties so far.
According to her, the fire affected up to the fifth floor of the 25-storey building. She noted that the structure houses warehouses for clothing materials, corporate offices, and retail spaces.
“Firefighting operations are still ongoing,” Adeseye said. “At this time, we have recorded no casualties.”
Authorities have urged residents and business owners in the area to remain calm while emergency responders continue their work.
