Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has approved the demolition of the Great Nigeria Insurance House gutted by fire on Christmas eve.
Sanwo-Olu The governor who visited the scene of the inferno promptly raised a technical committee to demolish the remains of the high rise building largely used as a warehouse by traders.
On Thursday, seven people were confirmed to have sustained varying degrees of burns and were immediately hospitalised for medical attention.
The 25-storey building was still burning on Christmas day while about six nearby structures, including the seven-storey Radio Nigeria building, the popular Oluwole Plaza, a mosque, and other adjoining commercial and residential buildings were affected.
The spokesperson for the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, LASEMA, Nosa Okunbor, confirmed the incident in a statement issued on Christmas Day.
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“The adjoining buildings in proximity to the high-rise have largely been salvaged, and coordinated efforts continue to ensure the inferno is completely extinguished,” Okunbor said.
According to eyewitnesses, the fire began around 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve, originating from the fourth floor of the Great Nigeria Insurance House before rapidly spreading to the upper floors. LASEMA immediately issued a public alert urging residents and traders in the area to evacuate for safety.
Giving a detailed update on Thursday, Okunbor stated, “Seven adult males suffered varying degrees of burn injuries as a result of the inferno and were attended to by the agency’s paramedics before being taken to nearby hospitals for further medical attention. Five other individuals experienced smoke inhalation and were treated at the scene.”
Okunbor further disclosed that emergency responders had successfully extinguished the fire at the seven-storey Radio Nigeria building across from the insurance house and that dampening operations continue to prevent any rekindling of flames.
Security operatives and fire fighters are still on site to contain further spread of the raging fire.
