Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday returned to the scene of the Christmas Eve fire outbreak at the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building on Martins Street, Lagos Island, to assess the level of emergency response and the scale of destruction caused by the inferno.
The Governor disclosed that eight persons lost their lives in the fire incident, with three victims burnt beyond recognition, while 13 traders trapped in the rubble were rescued alive by a combined team of first responders.
Emergency personnel from the Lagos State Fire Service, Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), and security agencies are still on ground, combing through the debris in search of possible survivors.
According to Sanwo-Olu, five of the deceased have been identified by their families, while the Lagos State Government will conduct DNA tests on the three charred bodies recovered from the site to establish their identities and reunite them with their families.
After inspecting the GNI building and assessing the damage done to surrounding structures, the Governor toured adjoining streets within the Balogun Market axis, where he observed widespread violations of building regulations.
The Governor described the level of non-compliance with building codes in the market as reckless and unacceptable, announcing plans for a complete regeneration of the Balogun Market to restore order, safety, and aesthetics to the area.
“In the last one hour, I’ve gone round the streets within the market. From a non-professional assessment, it was clear that most of the buildings in the market are completely distressed,” Sanwo-Olu said.
“We will conduct a professional assessment on all the buildings to ascertain our findings. Lives have been lost, properties destroyed, and means of livelihood shattered.”
Sanwo-Olu revealed alarming safety breaches during his inspection, including industrial generators placed on upper floors of buildings, unapproved additional structures, and shops built dangerously close to electric transformers.
“Going round the market, I personally counted over 14 industrial generators placed on the fourth and fifth floors of some buildings. This shows how careless people have been with their lives,” he stated.
He stressed that repeated disregard for regulations often leads to devastating consequences, adding that the state would no longer tolerate such lawlessness.
“This is an opportunity for us to embark on a complete regeneration of the whole area. Regenerating the trading space will be a tough decision, but it is the right step to preserve lives and properties,” the Governor said.
Addressing speculation about missing persons, Sanwo-Olu assured families that rescue operations would continue, describing the location as an “active site.” He confirmed that emergency responders, including LASEMA, NEMA, the Police, DSS, the Army, Lagos State Building Control Agency (LABSCA), and the Central Business District (CBD) Office, would remain at the scene to support search efforts and assist families.
The Governor also lamented that trading in unapproved areas obstructed access routes, delaying emergency response when the fire broke out. He noted that despite warnings, some occupants refused to evacuate while attempting to salvage goods.
“People were told to leave the building and nearby structures, but some stayed back to salvage their goods at the risk of their lives,” he said.
For safety reasons, Sanwo-Olu directed that all shops and buildings within a 100-metre radius of the fire site remain closed until further notice, warning that the area remains unsafe due to unburnt flammable materials that could trigger further incidents.
He assured affected families that rescue teams would continue their work cautiously to avoid further loss of life.
