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By Lukman Olabiyi
The Lagos State Government has begun enforcing Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s directive for the immediate evacuation of residents and businesses around the burnt Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building on Lagos Island, following concerns over public safety.
Government-appointed structural and safety experts who assessed the site after the fire incident warned that the area poses grave risks to lives and property.
According to the experts, all buildings within a 100-metre radius of the 25-storey structure have been structurally compromised and must be vacated without delay.
Officials disclosed that the integrity of several surrounding buildings has been weakened by the fire, making continued human activity in the area extremely dangerous.
They expressed concern that despite repeated warnings, some shop owners have been breaching the “no-movement” restriction erected around the site to access their shops.
The state government described such actions as highly risky and warned that the practice must stop immediately to prevent further casualties.
The GNI building, located in the Balogun Market area of Lagos Island, was engulfed by fire on 24 December, triggering widespread safety concerns and prompting intensified emergency response measures by the state government.
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Earlier, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) had also appealed to residents and passers-by to keep a minimum distance of 50 metres away from the affected building.
The agency’s General Manager, Gboyega Akosile, said the appeal became necessary because the structural stability of the building cannot be determined until comprehensive technical integrity tests are conducted by the state government.
He stressed that the safety of lives and property remains a top priority for the Sanwo-Olu administration, adding that LASBCA will continue to enforce compliance with building standards and regulations across the state.
“The agency will ensure that State Building Codes and Regulations are duly followed by building owners and developers by making sure that approvals granted by the state government are strictly adhered to,” Akosile said.
He further warned that the Lagos State Government would not tolerate any disregard for its building laws, noting that such violations have contributed to building collapses, leading to avoidable loss of lives and property.
Akosile reaffirmed the government’s commitment to reducing incidents of building collapse in Lagos to the barest minimum through strict enforcement and compliance within the built environment.
