Photo Credit: The Punch
2025-12-26 06:10:00
Reporting by *PUNCH* indicates that a major blaze at the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House area on Lagos Island triggered panic among traders and residents, with emergency responders battling the flames and attempting to secure adjoining structures.
Witness accounts described a chaotic scramble as shop owners tried to salvage goods, while authorities moved to cordon off streets and restrict movement around the incident zone.
Beyond the immediate human-safety concerns, the disruption hit Christmas-period commerce, forcing nearby markets and shops to suspend activity and deepening losses for small businesses already strained by costs and weak demand.
Officials are expected to provide fuller incident reports on suspected ignition points, building compliance issues, and enforcement actions to prevent a repeat.
Channels Television reported the governor saying the 25-storey GNI building “will be demolished once the inferno is completely put out,” while *TheCable* quoted LASEMA’s update: “The fire has now been contained by the combined efforts of responders at the scene.”
Echotitbits take: Lagos fires are increasingly becoming an economic story, not just a safety headline—inventory losses, insurance claims, and shutdown days compound hardship. Watch for transparent structural integrity assessments, accountability on fire-safety compliance, and credible relief measures for affected traders.
Source:The Punch p — Dec 26, 2025 (https://punchng.com/lagos-fire-china-returnee-others-still-trapped-in-22-storey-building/)
