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• Our kids out of school, our livelihoods in ruins, they lament
Almost 10 months after the fire that gutted the Great Nigeria House on Lagos Island, victims of the inferno and families of those who died have appealed to Lagos State Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu to come to their aid.
The victims lamented that life had become unbearable since the tragedy, alleging that, unlike victims of similar disasters in the state who received government assistance, nothing had been done to alleviate their suffering.
The tragedy occurred about 4:40 p.m on December 24, 2025, at the heart of Balogun Market on Lagos Island.
Emergency response teams from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service and the Federal Fire Service arrived at the scene but were reportedly hampered by water scarcity, allowing the fire to continue for several days.
Initial reports indicated that no lives were lost, although the value of goods and property destroyed was enormous. However, following days of search-and-rescue operations, it was confirmed that several people had died, while others sustained critical burns and suffered smoke inhalation.
The economic losses were also massive, as importers, retailers and Instagram vendors who had stocked their shops with goods ahead of the post-Christmas sales reportedly lost their investments.
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For many families, the fire wiped out years of savings and businesses overnight.
Days after the incident, Governor Sanwo-Olu visited Martins Street to assess the situation. Engineers from the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA) subsequently declared the building structurally compromised beyond repair and ordered its total demolition. A 100-metre hazard radius was also cordoned off.
However, the victims said the visit marked the last major government attention they received.
“It is almost one year now and we have not received any help. Our children are out of school, we have no capital to start again, and families of those who died are suffering,” a victim, Martin, who lost his shop and brother in the fire, said.
Another trader said: “We saw what happened in Dosunmu Market. The victims were compensated by the government. Why have they forgotten us? We are begging Governor Sanwo-Olu to remember us.”
The victims said they were not demanding too much from the government, but were seeking relief funds, business support and assistance for the families of those who lost their lives in the tragedy.
They appealed to the governor to urgently intervene and help them rebuild their lives and businesses.
As of press time, there was no official statement from the Lagos State Government on compensation or rehabilitation for victims of the Great Nigeria House fire.
