A major fire broke out at the Great Nigeria Insurance House, a commercial plaza on Martins Street in Lagos Island, Lagos State on Wednesday. The building
is a 22-storey structure and is mainly used as a warehouse for clothing materials, with some corporate offices and shops inside.
The fire started around 5 pm on Wednesday. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said the fire began on the fourth floor. It quickly spread to other floors, reaching the sixth level in a short time, according to local media reports.
“Upon arrival at the scene, our team found the building engulfed by fire,” he said. “The fire started from one of the offices on the fourth floor and spread rapidly to other parts of the building,” he added.
Emergency teams, including LASEMA’s Shark Response Team and the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, arrived at the spot immediately. They started rescue and firefighting operations to contain the blaze.
Margaret Adeseye, Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, confirmed that the fire affected up to the fifth floor. She added that it originated from that level before spreading downward.
“The building is mainly used for warehouse storage and sale of clothing materials,” she said. “Some offices and shops are also within the premises. So far, no casualties have been recorded while firefighting continues," added the official.
READ ALSO | Rio Linda Plane Crash: Small Aircraft Goes Down In Sacramento, Two Critically Injured
Investigations into the cause of the fire are underway. Roads around the building may be blocked temporarily to allow fire and rescue teams to work safely.
