Twelve people have been injured after a fire engulfed the 22‑storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island on Wednesday.
Gatekeepers News reports that in an update on December 25, Damilola Oke‑Osanyintolu, Director‑General of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), said the fire, which started on December 24, has now been largely contained.
Flames had spread from the building to nearby properties, including a mosque and parts of Oluwole Plaza, but firefighters succeeded in bringing the inferno under control.
Preliminary findings from the Shark Response Team indicate the fire began in an apartment on the fourth floor before quickly spreading upwards through the upper floors of the 22‑storey building.
Of the injured, seven adult males suffered burn injuries and were treated by paramedics before being taken to nearby hospitals for further care.
Additionally, three males and two females received on‑site treatment for smoke inhalation and were later released.
Most goods and stalls in the affected section of Oluwole Plaza were recovered intact, and a seven‑storey Radio Nigeria building opposite the Great Nigeria Insurance House was also safely protected, with continued dampening operations to prevent rekindling.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are expected to continue now that the flames are under control, with authorities promising further updates as more information becomes available.
