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By Lukman Olabiyi
Lagos State Government has confirmed that eight people died in the fire that engulfed the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Building on Martins Street, Lagos Island, a day before Christmas.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu disclosed this yesterday after inspecting the 22-storey building, which was severely damaged in the inferno.
He said eight corpses were recovered from the building, while 13 people were rescued alive.
According to the governor, only five of the deceased have so far been identified by their relatives.
Sanwo-Olu commiserated with the families of the victims and led officials and members of the public in a minute of silence in honour of those who lost their lives.
The governor announced that the area within a 100-metre radius of the building would remain closed to business and public activities, citing serious safety concerns.
He explained that the structure and its surroundings remain unstable, noting that smoke was still billowing from the building.
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He added that there were indications that more bodies might still be trapped under the collapsed structure, stressing that the demolition of the building would only be carried out when the temperature of the site becomes safe for operatives.
Sanwo-Olu attributed the outbreak and escalation of the fire partly to recklessness and carelessness around the building, particularly by traders who attempted to salvage goods instead of evacuating promptly.
“A fire started and people were more concerned about their goods than their own lives. People were advised to move away, but many chose to stay back to rescue items under the building. Vehicular movement also hindered first responders from gaining quick access to the scene,” the governor said.
He reiterated that the affected area would remain shut, warning that it was still unsafe.
“Lives have been lost, property destroyed, and livelihoods affected. We are still investigating the cause of the fire, but we have observed a high level of recklessness around the back of the building,” he added.
The governor said the state government would take ‘tough but necessary’ decisions, including the possible demolition of surrounding structures affected by the inferno, in order to safeguard lives and property.
“From even a layman’s view, it is clear that the building and the entire area are completely distressed. While further technical assessments will be conducted, public safety remains our priority,” Sanwo-Olu said.
