Lagos Government Forms Committee to Tear Down Fire-Damaged GNI Building

Table of Contents

1. Committee Formation
2. Safety Operations
3. Casualties
4. Fire Safety Violations
5. Public Reassurance

The Lagos State Government has established a Technical Recovery and Demolition Committee to oversee the planned demolition of the fire-damaged Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Building on Lagos Island, as emergency response efforts continue at the unstable site.

This decision followed a second inspection visit by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on January 2, 2026, as stated in an update released on Friday by the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service.

The committee, led by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, is responsible for creating and implementing a meticulously controlled demolition plan for the affected structure and its surrounding area.

Officials indicated that the plan would be executed as swiftly as possible, prioritizing the safety of the public and emergency responders.

Providing an update on the conditions at the site, the Fire and Rescue Service reported that emergency teams remain fully deployed, noting that the area is still highly unstable due to significant debris and severely compromised structural elements.

In a statement signed by the agency’s Controller General, Margaret Adeseye, the service characterized the area as “extremely sensitive and volatile,” with substantial amounts of rubble still present.

She explained that pockets of fire are intermittently discovered within the debris, primarily fueled by combustible materials such as textiles and clothing stored inside the building, rather than by the structure itself.

“These materials are deeply embedded within the rubble, and accessing them necessitates specialized technical planning and utmost caution,” the statement indicated.

The agency clarified that while the remaining fire pockets do not pose an immediate threat to neighboring buildings, any uncoordinated or premature removal of debris could lead to further collapsing of the already weakened structure.

“The fire has significantly compromised the building’s foundation, rendering it structurally unsafe and unsuitable for any form of usage,” the service stated, adding that some debris might currently be providing unintended support to the structure.

Officials emphasized that all ongoing operations adhere to international disaster response standards, with responder safety taking precedence over all other considerations.

They noted that large-scale incidents of this nature often require weeks or even months to be fully resolved.

Regarding public safety measures, authorities confirmed that the affected market and surrounding areas remain closed, with access strictly limited to authorized emergency personnel.

An information desk has also been established at the site to address inquiries from families, traders, and other concerned stakeholders.

In terms of casualties, the Fire and Rescue Service confirmed eight fatalities to date, five of whom have been identified and three remain unidentified, while 13 individuals were rescued alive.

Search operations continue in sections of the debris deemed safe to ensure no victims are left trapped.

Preliminary findings have also uncovered considerable fire safety violations within the building.

According to officials, these violations include excessive storage of combustible materials from floor to ceiling with minimal or no ventilation, the lack of functional fire safety installations, and hazardous practices such as operating generators inside buildings and shops located near transformers.

The service cautioned that such conditions can lead to intense heat accumulation and spontaneous combustion, even without an external ignition source.
Reassuring the public, Adeseye stated that emergency operations would persist until all risks at the site are completely eliminated.

“All actions being taken are deliberate, professional, and guided by safety considerations,” she affirmed. “Operations will continue until ground zero is entirely accessed and the incident is conclusively resolved.”