Fire guts great Nigeria Insurance House on Lagos Island

A fire outbreak on Christmas Eve gutted the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, destroying properties worth millions of naira and throwing the area into panic.

The incident occurred at about 5:00 p.m. on Wednesday, when thick smoke and flames were seen billowing from the building, prompting occupants and nearby residents to flee for safety. Eyewitnesses described scenes of confusion as people scrambled to evacuate the premises and adjoining structures

Eyewitnesses said the fire spread quickly before emergency responders arrived at the scene.

Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, alongside other emergency agencies, were seen battling the raging fire in an effort to bring it under control and prevent it from spreading to neighbouring buildings.

According to the Controller General of Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, “Upon receipt of the distress call at 16:41 hours, firefighters arrived on scene at 16:53 hours to curtail the raging fire

“The incident occurred at The Great Nigeria Insurance House, Martins Street, Lagos Island.

“The fire is currently affecting up to the fifth floor of a 25-storey building. It originated on the fifth floor and has spread downwards from that level.”

The affected building, it was gathered, is primarily used for warehouse storage and the sale of clothing materials, with corporate offices and a few shops also located within the premises.

“There has been no record of casualty as firefighting continues at the time of this report,” Adeseye stated.