Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has confirmed eight people dead in the Christmas Eve fire at Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building on Martins Street, Lagos Island.
Speaking at the fire site on Friday, January 2, 2025, confirmed the death of eight victims in the inferno, with three of them burnt beyond recognition.
The governor stated that 13 traders trapped in the rubbles were rescued alive by the combined team of first responders.
Five bodies, he disclosed, had been identified by their families, saying the Lagos State Government would conduct DNA tests on the three charred bodies evaluated from the site to identify their families.
After assessing the magnitude of the damage done by the GNI building fire on surrounding buildings, Sanwo-Olu moved round the adjoining streets within the Balogun Market to audit the high-rise buildings.
Revelation pointed to many contraventions and flouting of building codes by the traders in the Balogun market, prompting Sanwo-Olu to direct complete regeneration of the market for restoration of its aesthetics and space.
Sanwo-Olu said he observed reckless flouting of Lagos State’s building regulations to an unacceptable level, noting that the traders were lawless.
He said each time people flouted the rules and refused to obey regulations, the effects were always greater in impact.
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The governor said: “We are sending message to property owners and developers to come forward; we will be evaluating all the buildings in the market.
“Regenerating the trading space is going to be a tough decision for us but it is a proper step to take to preserve lives and properties. We will not shy away from taking this responsibility.”
Sanwo-Olu addressed the speculations about people missing and trapped at the fire site, noting that the emergency responders would remain on the site to comb through the debris for possible survivors.
For continuous emergency management at the scene, Sanwo-Olu directed that all shops and buildings within 100 metre radius of the fire site should remain shut until further notice, stressing that the area was still not safe for movement.
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