A fire broke out at about 5 p.m. on Wednesday on the fourth floor of the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, before spreading to other floors of the building.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the number of casualties could not yet be determined as rescue operations were still ongoing.
In a public safety alert issued after an on-the-spot assessment, Oke-Osanyintolu disclosed that the fire had escalated significantly. He therefore urged residents and traders in the affected area to evacuate immediately to prevent possible casualties.
He said, “Preliminary assessments from the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency team at the scene of the fire outbreak at the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, indicate that the fire has escalated rapidly across multiple floors, posing significant risks to lives, adjoining buildings and the safety of members of the public within the surrounding perimeter.
He added that while emergency responders continued to battle the fire, residents were advised to remain calm, avoid the area, and comply with safety directives.
