The number of casualties from the fire that engulfed the old Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building on Lagos Island has increased to 12, following the discovery of four additional bodies under the collapsed structure.
The incident occurred three weeks earlier on Christmas Eve at the 22-storey high-rise.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) confirmed that the Federal Government has secured the deployment of heavy machinery from the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to bolster ongoing search and recovery efforts.
In a statement, NEMA explained that the rescue operation remains challenging and technical due to the unstable state of the structure.
“Significant progress has been recorded with the controlled removal of debris and the recovery of four bodies from beneath the rubble,” the statement said.
NEMA added that its role includes offering technical direction, mobilising resources, and coordinating the deployment of CCECC’s equipment for safe excavation and debris removal. The effort is being conducted alongside the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), and several other agencies.
The newly recovered bodies were documented and handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SHEMU) for forensic identification and proper handling.
Security around the site remains tight, with police officers, military personnel and other law enforcement bodies maintaining a perimeter blockade to prevent unauthorised entry and ensure the safety of responders and residents.
A recent coordination meeting involving NEMA’s Lagos Operations Office, state officials, and community representatives—including the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Arc GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde; and the local CDA chairman—mapped out the next steps.
The plan entails phased excavation, structural integrity evaluation, controlled demolition, and final site restoration.
“All activities at the site remain under the authority of LASEMA and the Lagos State Government, with NEMA providing technical and operational support,” the statement concluded.