The Lagos State Government has announced plans to demolish the fire-damaged Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building on Martins Street, Lagos Island, following a devastating blaze that killed 12 people in December 2025.
The government has warned residents, traders and motorists to stay away from the affected area during the demolition exercise, citing safety concerns over the condition of the structure.
The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, disclosed the planned operation in a statement on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Brandspur Politics reports that authorities may temporarily divert traffic around the site and have urged road users to follow instructions from emergency responders and traffic officials.
Although the government has announced the demolition, it has yet to specify when the exercise will begin.
The decision follows months of recovery operations at the building, which was gutted by fire on December 24, 2025. The incident caused part of the structure to collapse and left several people trapped beneath the debris.
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) deployed heavy-duty equipment supplied by the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation to support the recovery effort. The operation involved several agencies, including LASEMA and the Lagos State Waste Management Authority.
NEMA previously reported progress in clearing the wreckage and recovering victims’ remains, describing the work as particularly difficult because of the unstable condition of the building. The recovered bodies were documented and transferred to the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit for forensic identification and appropriate handling.
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu had ordered the demolition after visiting the site following the disaster. At the time, he said five victims had been identified, while three people remained unaccounted for, as emergency teams continued searching the debris.
The governor also ordered the closure of nearby markets and restricted access to emergency personnel during the recovery operation. He warned that surrounding structures could also be removed if necessary to eliminate further safety risks.
According to the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the fire started on the building’s fourth floor before spreading to adjoining structures and nearby shops. The blaze caused a partial collapse estimated at seven floors.
Emergency responders rescued eight men, including a firefighter, with varying degrees of injuries. Three other men and two women sustained minor injuries and were treated at the scene before being discharged.
The planned demolition is expected to address the danger posed by the damaged structure, while the latest safety warning signals further restrictions for people who live, work or trade around Martins Street.
Residents and motorists have been advised to avoid the area during the operation and use alternative routes if traffic diversions are introduced.
