The Lagos State Government has constituted a Technical Recovery and Demolition Committee to oversee the safe demolition of the fire-ravaged Great Nigeria Insurance, GNI, Building, following a second on-site assessment by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
The committee, chaired by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, Gbenga Oyerinde, is mandated to develop and implement a controlled demolition plan for the affected structure and its immediate surroundings, with strict emphasis on public and responder safety.
In a comprehensive update released on Friday, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that emergency responders remain fully deployed at the incident scene, which is still considered highly sensitive and volatile due to large volumes of unstable rubble.
According to the Service, intermittent pockets of fire are still being observed within the debris. These fires are primarily fueled by combustible materials such as textiles and clothing stored inside the building, and not by the structural components themselves.
The Fire Service clarified that while the residual fires do not pose an immediate external threat, any hurried removal of debris could destabilise the already weakened structure and trigger a collapse, putting first responders at grave risk.
“The building’s foundation has been severely compromised by the fire, rendering it structurally unsafe and unfit for any form of use,” the Service stated, adding that some rubble currently provides unintended support and must only be removed through a carefully sequenced technical plan.
Authorities stressed that all operations are being carried out in line with global disaster-response best practices, noting that incidents of this magnitude often take weeks or months to fully resolve.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reiterated that the entire area remains unsafe for public or commercial activities.
”The market and surrounding areas remain closed, with access restricted to authorised emergency personnel only. Members of the public have been urged to remain calm and cooperative, as public safety is directly linked to the safety of responders on the ground.”
It noted that an Information Centre has been established at the site to respond to enquiries from affected families, stakeholders, and the general public.
The Service confirmed eight fatalities from the incident, with five victims identified and three yet to be identified. Thirteen people have been rescued alive, while search operations continue in safer sections of the debris to ensure no one remains trapped.
Meanwhile, preliminary assessments revealed serious fire safety violations within the building, including overstocking of combustible materials with little or no ventilation, absence of fire safety infrastructure, and unsafe practices such as generator use within enclosed spaces and shops constructed close to transformers.
Officials warned that such conditions can lead to heat build-up and spontaneous ignition even without an external fire source.
Drawing a global comparison, the Fire Service noted that firefighting and recovery operations at the World Trade Center site in New York lasted over 100 days, underscoring the complexity of large-scale structural fire incidents.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service assured residents that all actions being taken are deliberate, professional, and safety-driven, adding that operations will continue until ground zero is fully accessed and all risks eliminated.
“Your safety is our priority. A safe rescuer ensures a safe rescue,” the Service said.
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