A catastrophic fire that erupted on Christmas Eve at a high-rise building in the heart of Lagos Island has now claimed five lives, with the blaze continuing to rage days after it first broke out. The inferno at the 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance Plc building on Martins Street has left a trail of destruction, injuries, and significant property loss.
Escalating Tragedy and Rescue Efforts
The fire started at approximately 6:00 p.m. on December 24, 2024. Despite the relentless efforts of emergency responders, the flames proved difficult to contain, consuming the structure over several days. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) initially confirmed three fatalities. However, officials at the scene have now reported that five bodies have been recovered from the rubble, with the first three found on the fourth day following the incident.
The victims included one adult woman and two adult men. The woman's body was handed over to her husband. In addition to the tragic loss of life, at least 12 people sustained injuries. Emergency crews managed to rescue 13 individuals alive from the perilous scene.
Widespread Damage and Trader Anguish
The fire's ferocity caused extensive collateral damage, spreading to several neighbouring properties. Affected structures include a seven-storey building to the right, a three-storey building behind it, a two-storey building to the left, and a three-storey building opposite the site. A mosque and two other three-storey buildings behind the complex were also impacted.
Traders who operated from the affected buildings shared harrowing accounts of the disaster. Kafayat Adesina, a survivor, recounted how the fire escalated from minor to wildly out of control in under five minutes. "We were happy when the Lagos State Fire Service arrived, but they could do little," she said, calling for the government to establish more fire posts across the state.
Another trader, Abimbola Adeosun, lamented the total loss suffered by her family. "My daughter has a shop in the affected building, and my son-in-law also has one. I have been crying; there is nothing left. That is where they get money to feed me," she stated, pleading for government intervention. Musiliu Kaleed highlighted the broader economic crisis, noting that billions of naira are lost yearly to such fires and urging relief for traders who took loans to start their businesses.
Insurance Company Reveals Underlying Property Dispute
Amid the tragedy, Great Nigeria Insurance Plc (GNI) issued a statement clarifying its contentious relationship with the property. The company expressed sympathy for those affected but detailed a long-standing legal battle with the Shitta-Bey family, the lessors of the bare land at No. 47/57 Martins Street.
GNI explained that it erected the 25-storey building for strategic investment under a lease set to expire on December 31, 2036. However, the company has been in court with the family, which filed multiple suits and appeals. In 2020, during pending appeals, the family allegedly took possession of the property forcefully, leasing it out to tenants without GNI's involvement.
"Consequently, GNI has for over five years been denied physical possession of the property," the statement read. The company assured the public that its operations were unaffected, as it does not maintain an office in the burnt building. Its head office remains at No. 8 Omo Osagie Street, off Awolowo Road, Ikoyi.
The ongoing inferno and rising death toll have cast a stark spotlight on fire safety infrastructure and building management disputes in one of Nigeria's busiest commercial districts, prompting urgent calls for review and action.
