Lagos State has formed a Technical Recovery and Demolition Committee to oversee the controlled demolition of the fire damaged and structurally unstable Great Nigeria Insurance building on Lagos Island following a second inspection by Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu on January 2 2026 The committee led by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations will devise a demolition plan prioritizing safety as emergency teams continue efforts to stabilize the site officials confirmed on Friday
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service described the building as severely compromised with its foundation weakened and structural elements severely damaged Extensive debris and unstable conditions pose ongoing collapse risks Intermittent fire pockets have been detected within the rubble fueled by buried combustible materials including textiles and clothing Authorities emphasized that any uncoordinated debris removal could trigger further structural failure complicating demolition efforts Neighboring buildings currently face no immediate threat but controlled operations are critical to prevent additional damage
The incident has resulted in eight confirmed fatalities with five victims identified and three yet to be named while 13 people were rescued alive Search operations are continuing in sections of the debris deemed safe to locate any remaining individuals
Preliminary investigations uncovered significant fire safety violations including excessive storage of flammable materials with poor ventilation lack of functional fire safety systems and hazardous practices such as operating generators indoors and locating shops near transformers These conditions may have exacerbated the fires intensity officials stated
Authorities reaffirmed commitment to concluding emergency operations only after ensuring all risks are eliminated The affected market and surrounding areas remain cordoned off with access restricted to authorized personnel An information desk has been established to address inquiries from families and businesses Officials noted that resolving such large scale incidents typically requires weeks or even months depending on progress
