The Lagos State Government has disclosed plans to pull down the Great Nigeria Insurance building on Lagos Island, which was badly damaged by fire, and has cautioned residents and motorists to stay away from the area while the work lasts.

Premium Times reported that the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, made the announcement in a statement issued on Wednesday.

He explained that access to the area would be restricted during the exercise and that temporary traffic diversions could be introduced.

He urged motorists to use alternative routes and advised residents to comply with directives from emergency responders and traffic officials.

“This necessary action has been approved after thorough structural assessment by relevant agencies which confirmed that the building poses a significant risk to public safety.

“We therefore appeal to all residents, business owners and motorists who live or operate within the area to cooperate fully with our emergency responders and traffic management officials,” the statement read

The demolition plan comes after a fire destroyed the building on Martins Street on 24 December 2025, leaving 12 people dead.

The federal government, through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), deployed heavy-duty equipment supplied by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to support ongoing recovery operations at the site.

NEMA described the multi-agency effort as complex because of the precarious condition of the building.

“Significant progress has been recorded with the controlled removal of debris and recovery of four bodies,” the agency said.

NEMA coordinated the recovery operations alongside CCECC, with supervision from LASEMA, the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA) and other stakeholders.

The agency said the recovered bodies had been documented and handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU) for forensic identification and dignified handling.

Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu later ordered the demolition of the building over concerns about the safety of the fire-damaged structure.

Speaking at the site, the governor confirmed that five victims had been identified, while three remained unaccounted for at that time.

He said emergency responders were still combing through the debris to make sure no one remained trapped.

The governor announced the closure of nearby markets, with access restricted to first responders only.

He described the tragedy as a reminder of the dangers of unsafe practices around commercial structures, including improper generator use and shops built close to electricity transformers.

He pledged to personally oversee the recovery process.

He also stressed that surrounding structures might be removed to prevent further hazards.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service confirmed that the fire started on the fourth floor of the building and spread to adjoining structures and nearby shops.

The spread led to a partial collapse estimated at seven floors.

Eight males, including a firefighter, were rescued with varying degrees of injuries.

Three males and two females with minor injuries were treated and discharged at the scene.

Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said LASEMA would work with other government agencies to coordinate safety measures during the exercise.

However, Wednesday’s statement did not state when the demolition would begin.