Emergency responders are currently tackling a fire outbreak at the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island. The building, mainly used as a warehouse for clothing materials, was reportedly engulfed in flames around 5 p.m. on Wednesday.
According to Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the fire started in one of the offices on the fourth floor before spreading to other floors.
The LASEMA official said the cause of the fire is yet to be confirmed and that rescue efforts are ongoing to ensure the safety of people inside the building.
“Upon arrival of the Shark Response Team at the scene, a 22-storey building (Great Nigeria Insurance House) was found to have been engulfed by fire.
“Preliminary investigation conducted by the Shark Response Team revealed that the fire started from one of the apartments on the fourth floor and quickly gained momentum, spreading to other parts of the floor and escalating upwards to the sixth floor within the 22-storey building.
“Currently, the number of casualties cannot be ascertained, as firefighting operations are still ongoing,” Oke-Osanyintolu said.
Margaret Adeseye, Controller-General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, also said in a statement that no casualties had been reported so far.
“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.
“The affected building is primarily used for warehouse storage and the sale of clothing materials, with corporate offices and a few shops also located within the premises. There has been no record of casualties as firefighting continues,” Adeseye stated.