Fire gutted parts of the Great Nigeria Insurance House located on Martins Street, Lagos Island, on Christmas Eve, destroying property estimated to be worth millions of naira.

The fire outbreak, which occurred on Wednesday evening, triggered panic within the area as occupants of the affected building, alongside residents of neighbouring properties, hurriedly fled to safety.

As at the time this report was filed, no casualties had been recorded from the incident.

Eyewitness accounts revealed that the fire started at about 5pm, with thick smoke seen billowing from the high-rise structure, drawing the attention of passersby and business owners operating around the busy Lagos Island axis.

Emergency responders were promptly alerted as the flames spread rapidly within the building, raising concerns about the safety of nearby structures.

Officials of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, supported by other emergency agencies, quickly mobilised to the scene and began efforts to contain the inferno.

Confirming the incident, the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said, “Upon receipt of the distress call at 16:41 hours, firefighters arrived on scene at 16:53 hours to curtail the raging fire.”

She further stated, “The incident occurred at The Great Nigeria Insurance House, Martins Street, Lagos Island.”

Adeseye disclosed that the fire had spread across several levels of the building, saying, “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.”

Further findings showed that the affected structure is largely utilised as a warehouse for the storage and sale of clothing materials, while also accommodating several corporate offices and a number of retail shops.

The nature of the materials stored within the building is believed to have contributed significantly to the intensity of the fire.

Adeseye added that firefighting operations were still ongoing at the time of reporting, stressing that, “There has been no record of casualty as firefighting continues at the time of this report.”

Authorities have since cordoned off the area to facilitate emergency operations and ensure public safety, while investigations into the cause of the fire are expected to commence once the situation is fully brought under control.