Inferno on Lagos Island
AWC National Desk
Lagos, Nigeria — Panic gripped Lagos Island on Tuesday as a major fire outbreak engulfed the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martin Street, sending thick plumes of smoke into the skyline and forcing workers, traders and residents to flee the area.
Eyewitnesses at the scene described a slow and ineffective firefighting response, alleging that emergency intervention was either delayed or inadequate as the flames spread rapidly through sections of the multi-storey building.
“We didn’t see any effective firefighting effort early enough. The fire kept spreading,” one eyewitness said, lamenting what he called a familiar pattern on the Island.
Painful Déjà Vu
The incident has reopened fresh wounds for residents and business owners on Lagos Island, who recall a recent fire disaster at a nearby building housing a UBA branch, where about eight lives were reportedly lost, according to eyewitness accounts at the time.
Many onlookers drew parallels between both incidents, questioning why fire safety preparedness and rapid response capacity remain weak in one of Nigeria’s most commercially critical districts.
Economic and Safety Concerns
Martin Street and its environs are part of the historic commercial heart of Lagos, hosting banks, insurance firms, trading houses and warehouses. Beyond property losses, stakeholders warn that recurrent fire outbreaks pose serious threats to:
- Lives and livelihoods
- Investor confidence
- Business continuity in the central business district
Traders were seen hurriedly moving goods away from nearby buildings, fearing the fire could spread further.
Calls for Accountability
As of press time, no official casualty figures had been confirmed, while emergency agencies were yet to issue a detailed statement on the cause of the fire or the extent of damage.
Residents and business owners are calling on the Lagos State Government, fire service authorities and safety regulators to urgently review fire response infrastructure on Lagos Island, including water access, equipment readiness, personnel strength and enforcement of fire safety standards in old commercial buildings.
“This should not keep happening,” a shop owner said. “Each time we lose properties, sometimes lives, and nothing seems to change.”
Waiting for Official Briefings
Authorities are expected to provide updates on:
- The cause of the inferno
- The effectiveness of emergency response
- Lessons from repeated fire incidents on Lagos Island
For now, the raging fire at Great Nigeria Insurance House stands as another stark reminder of the urgent need for proactive fire prevention and rapid-response capacity in Nigeria’s economic nerve centres.
