The Christmas Eve fire outbreak that gutted the iconic Great Nigeria House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, has once again drawn attention to the growing danger posed by unsafe warehouse practices within Lagos’ densely populated commercial districts.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, who visited the scene on Christmas Day, ordered the immediate demolition of the 25-storey structure after parts of the building collapsed during the inferno. The building, originally designed for office use, had over the years been converted into a massive warehouse by traders operating within the Central Business District.
The fire, which broke out around 6:00 pm on Christmas Eve, quickly spread from the 4th and 5th floors to other parts of the building, fuelled by highly flammable materials reportedly stored across several floors. Firefighters from the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service battled the blaze overnight, supported by personnel from the Federal Fire Service and the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).
Despite the intensity of the inferno, no lives were lost. However, officials confirmed that at least 10 people sustained minor injuries and were evacuated to hospitals by the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority (LASEMA).
Governor Sanwo-Olu described the incident as a preventable disaster, pointing to years of non-compliance with safety regulations and repeated warnings ignored by occupants of the building.
“This building has been subjected to extensive warehousing activities for over 15 years, which is against its original approval. Virtually every floor had been converted to storage space, with flammable materials kept without proper safety measures,” the Governor said.
He revealed that the same structure had previously experienced fire incidents, raising serious concerns about enforcement lapses and the misuse of commercial properties across Lagos Island.
Following the partial collapse observed during firefighting efforts, the Governor constituted a special committee, headed by the Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr. Olugbega Oyerinde, to determine the safest and fastest method of bringing down the structure to prevent further risk to adjoining buildings.
Two nearby buildings were heavily affected by the fire, while several others sustained partial damage, largely due to the close clustering of structures common in Lagos Island’s commercial hubs. As a precautionary measure, the Governor ordered the full evacuation of surrounding buildings.
Preliminary findings suggest that unsafe storage and poor handling of flammable materials may have triggered the fire, though investigations are still ongoing to establish the exact cause.
Beyond immediate response, the Lagos State Government says it will intensify fire safety awareness campaigns in the new year, particularly across markets, warehouses, and office complexes.
“January and February are high-risk months for fire outbreaks due to weather conditions. We must raise awareness and ensure people understand that storing flammable materials indiscriminately puts lives and properties at risk,” Sanwo-Olu said.
The renewed advocacy will focus on compliance, responsible storage practices, and enforcement of building use regulations, as the state seeks to prevent a repeat of what officials describe as one of the most dangerous commercial fires in recent times on Lagos Island.
