Lagos to demolish GNI building 10 months after fire

The Lagos State Government announced on Wednesday that controlled demolition of the fire-damaged Great Nigeria Insurance House on Lagos Island will commence on Thursday, nearly ten months after a catastrophic blaze swept through the high-rise structure. The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) shared this information in a public safety advisory issued by its Permanent Secretary, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, confirming that the demolition was approved following a structural assessment which determined the building posed a significant risk to public safety.

Oke-Osanyintolu stated that the demolition would be conducted professionally and in accordance with global best practices to protect lives and property. Emergency responders have cordoned off the immediate surroundings of the building and restricted access throughout the operation period, with temporary traffic diversions expected on adjoining streets.

LASEMA urges residents, traders, business owners, and motorists to avoid the area, use alternative routes, and obey instructions from emergency officials during the demolition process. The building, a 25-storey commercial structure located on Martins Street, caught fire on Christmas Eve 2025, rapidly engulfing the entire edifice and nearby structures.

The inferno resulted in the collapse of a portion of the building, trapping traders and occupants beneath the rubble. At least three fatalities were reported, and several individuals sustained injuries. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had visited the scene on Christmas Day 2025 and ordered the demolition due to the extensive damage and the building's history of previous fire incidents.