Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has indicated that the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance building gutted by a major fire will be demolished once the blaze is fully extinguished.

The governor disclosed this during his visit to the scene of the incident on Martins Street, Lagos Island, on Thursday, December 25, 2025.

Speaking in a video monitored on Channels Television, Sanwo-Olu said a committee led by the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Gbenga Oyerinde, has been set up to supervise the demolition, which is expected to take place in the coming days.

The governor confirmed that no lives were lost in the incident, adding that those who sustained serious injuries have been taken to the hospital for treatment.

He urged residents to be safety-conscious during the dry season, noting that this was not the first fire outbreak on Lagos Island, and advised the public to stay away from the affected area.

Sanwo-Olu also said all first responders would remain at the scene to prevent a recurrence of the fire, assuring that the government would support all affected traders.

He also noted that about three or four nearby buildings were affected by the inferno, with two of them suffering extensive damage.

Governor Sanwo-Olu said, ‘’You will see that the main building is been through partial collapse, and so what you will see is that eventually we will have to take down the entire building. I have set up a committee that will be headed by the honourable Commissioner for Special Duties, who will bring forward what will be the best mode for us to bring down the entire building within the shortest possible time.

“So that will happen in a couple of days from now, based on whatever capacity in our work mode of demolition that we are going to be advising. Unfortunately, this fire that started has affected three or four other buildings around, especially at the other end, which are all clustered together. Two are heavily impacted, and about three others are partially impacted. So we are monitoring, and we are watching.’’

It was earlier reported that a massive fire outbreak occurred at the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island.

The building, widely known to serve as a warehouse for traders dealing in clothing materials, was said to have been engulfed by flames in the evening.