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A large fire outbreak on Wednesday evening razed parts of the Great Nigeria Insurance House, a high-rise commercial building located on Martins Street, Lagos Island, leaving several traders temporarily trapped inside the premises.
The blaze reportedly broke out around 5:00 pm and quickly spread through sections of the structure, which is widely used as a hub for the storage and sale of clothing materials. Eyewitnesses said thick smoke billowed from the building as emergency responders raced to contain the situation.
Confirming the incident, the Director of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, disclosed that no fatalities had been recorded as of the latest official update, although rescue and firefighting operations were still ongoing at the time of reporting.
According to her, the inferno affected multiple levels of the building and required a coordinated response from several fire stations across the state.
“The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service received a distress call, and the Ebute Elefun and Dolphin Fire Stations responded swiftly, with support from the Sari Iganmu and Alausa headquarters,” Adeseye said.
She provided further details on the timeline and scale of the emergency, stating: “The call was received at 16:41 hours, and firefighters arrived on scene at 16:53 hours. The incident occurred at The Great Nigeria Insurance House, Martins Street, Lagos Island.”
Adeseye explained that the fire had spread significantly within the structure. “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,” she said.
The affected building serves multiple purposes, housing warehouses, retail outlets, and a number of corporate offices. Many of the traders who operate within the complex deal in textile materials, making the fire particularly concerning due to the highly flammable nature of stored fabrics.
“The affected building is primarily used for warehouse storage and the sale of clothing materials, with corporate offices and a few shops also located within the premises,” Adeseye added.
Although some occupants were initially trapped inside when the fire broke out, emergency responders worked quickly to secure the area and ensure that people were safely evacuated. Authorities have confirmed that no loss of life has been recorded so far.
“There has been no record of casualty as firefighting continues,” the fire service director stated.
She also issued a strong advisory to residents, business owners, and passersby, urging them to keep a safe distance from the scene to allow emergency operations to proceed smoothly. “Emergency officials have urged members of the public to stay away from the area to allow rescue operations to continue unhindered,” she said.
The incident caused significant disruption around Martins Street, with traffic congestion and heightened security presence as emergency crews battled the flames. Videos circulating on social media showed plumes of smoke rising from the building while firefighters worked tirelessly to prevent the fire from spreading to adjacent structures.
As of the time of filing this report, investigations into the cause of the fire had not yet begun, as priority remained on fully extinguishing the blaze and ensuring the safety of all occupants. Authorities have indicated that a detailed assessment will be carried out once the situation is under control.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reiterated its commitment to rapid response and public safety, while encouraging business owners to adhere strictly to fire safety regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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