On Christmas Eve, during the height of the holiday celebrations and music, the famous 25-story Great Nigeria Insurance Building located on Martins Street in the commercial area of Lagos Island was engulfed in flames. The fire started on the fourth level and gradually grew stronger, spreading to additional levels within a structure that typically experiences heavy foot traffic, particularly from late-night shoppers.
A blaze that burned for seven days caused significant damage, destroying items valued at millions of Naira and forcing merchants to leave their premises.
Additional fatalities were also noted. Numerous casualties were also documented. There were also several reported deaths. Other losses of life were also recorded. Various death cases were also registered.
Looking back, end-of-year periods in Nigeria are characterized by major fires that have destroyed marketplaces, shopping centers, and high-rise structures, among other places.
Following every blaze, those affected tally up their damages as the authorities express sorrow and make pledges, most of which remain unmet.
The delay in response from the fire department led to the fire spreading further. Although the seasonal harmattan, previously responsible for quick-fire propagation, was not present this time, the climate remained warm and moist with occasional rain continuing throughout the month.
Several accounts indicated that during the GNI fire which started in the late afternoon of 24 December, emergency services arrived shortly after the incident was reported.
Nevertheless, the firefighting department reportedly requested monetary compensation prior to sending its staff and machinery into the structure.
On Friday, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu directed the planned destruction of the structure.
Previously, Sanwo-Olu participated in the yearly Eyo Festival just a few meters away without stopping at the location. The governor reported eight fatalities, along with 13 individuals, including a fireman, who suffered different levels of injuries.
The verified death toll differs from reports stating that 15 corpses were retrieved from the building by rescue teams hired by anxious relatives. Images of three siblings, along with the spouse of an expectant mother, were shared online as belonging to individuals who remained inside the burned-down facility.
Regrettably, additional fatal fires took place within the state, prompting worries. On 30 December, a blaze erupted at the Arena Shopping Mall located in Oshodi, Lagos, resulting in significant losses amounting to millions of naira across numerous stores.
A new fire incident occurred within 24 hours in the Ikotun neighborhood. According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, they got an emergency report regarding the blaze at 12:22 AM, with firefighting teams reaching the location at 12:32 AM.
Another fire incident occurred on 20 December at the Federal Inland Revenue Service building located at No. 15 Sokode Crescent, within Wuse Zone 5, Abuja. The blaze impacted rooms on a higher level of the structure, but there were no reports of injuries.
Those flames were part of the 15,450 cases documented by Global Forest Watch over the last year, whereas 2024 saw 18,258 occurrences.
It is believed that fires have resulted in losses amounting to N6 trillion for Nigeria over the past five years up to 2017. One particular event in Kano led to damages worth N2 trillion.
Nigeria experiences its highest level of wildfires over a span of 15 weeks starting in late November. The authorities must remain highly alert throughout this time.
During his speech to station commanders participating in the Yuletide Operation Swift Response to Emergencies, Muhammad Anas, the Controller of the Federal Fire Service FCT Command, stated that the agency had deployed more than 3,000 fire personnel throughout the region to safeguard people and assets during the Christmas and New Year festivities, according to a report from the News Agency of Nigeria.
According to official data from fire departments, Lagos experienced the largest number of fires in 2025, totaling 1,922 incidents, whereas the FCT reported 338 cases, and Kaduna documented 50, as mentioned in The Development Report. Fire service officials noted that the majority of these incidents took place in market areas, residential structures, electrical systems, and routes used for transporting fuel.
According to the GFW, "data from VIIRS (Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite) plays an essential role in tracking fires via satellite across Nigeria, highlighting numerous fire warnings, particularly in areas experiencing significant forest loss, as advanced sensors can identify smaller blazes that previous satellites failed to detect, influencing greenhouse gas emissions and aiding improved firefighting strategies and environmental reporting within the area."
Many Nigerians were surprised by the inadequate reaction to the GNI House fire, since the state administration had pledged to avoid similar incidents following the conflagration at the adjacent Afriland Towers in August.
The provincial administration had pledged to examine the event and release its findings, yet so far, this has not been accomplished.
Although the state's fire official attributed the ten fatalities in the event to smoke inhalation, the victims' relatives and those of the 25 wounded continue to grieve their losses.
The incidents at Afriland Towers and GNI House bring to mind the horrendous fire at the 32-storey Nigerian External Telecommunications building on 24 January 1983, which saw some trapped victims jumping from the fifth floor, according to The New York Times.
It was reported that Nigerian Air Force helicopters evacuated individuals from the rooftop, whereas firefighters mistakenly deployed an incorrect type of hose into the adjacent Lagos Lagoon, preventing them from drawing water to control the fire.
On 4 November 2013, a fire broke out at the GNI building on the ground level and quickly moved upward. At that time, two people were injured, and damage was estimated to be in the billions.
For many years, the Martins Street neighborhood on Lagos Island has experienced fatal fires that resulted in loss of life and damage to property.
Therefore, the state government must implement drastic actions regarding the placement of structures on the island. The current proximity of the buildings increases the risk of fire spreading rapidly.
Roads are typically confined and may not allow fire engines to access areas during large fires. Several structures have insufficient ventilation or lighting. No automatic sprinkler systems or additional tools are available to manage flames.
The authorities ought to enforce more rigorous standards for construction permits, particularly concerning exterior fire exits. Prior to granting approval for tall structures, the firefighting department should provide essential feedback during the design phase.
The authorities must guarantee that appropriate plans are put into action, featuring fire hydrants, alarm systems, smoke detection devices, and water storage tanks always kept full.
Skyscrapers ought to be coated with flame-resistant materials to limit the expansion of a large fire. The sale of goods on footpaths must be banned near heavily populated zones.
Municipal authorities ought to establish fire departments and hire and educate staff for emergency response tasks.
The Inter-Committee on Internal Affairs at the National Assembly has put on hold the 2025 financial plan for the Federal Fire Service following the identification of several inconsistencies in its funding request. These issues may hinder its operational effectiveness. Consequently, the legislature ought to enforce rigorous monitoring over the agency to guarantee maximum efficiency.
Building owners and administrators of tall buildings must carry out routine fire exercises to familiarize their employees with methods for fighting fires and procedures for escaping and surviving emergencies.
With the start of the second decade of the 21st century, technological advancements must take the place of outdated methods used in building and maintaining structures.
Supplied by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( Syndigate.info ).
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