Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has confirmed that eight persons lost their lives in the Christmas Eve fire outbreak at the GNI Building Fire on Martins Street, Lagos Island, while 13 others were rescued alive from the debris.
Eko Hot News reports that the governor returned to the scene on Friday to assess the emergency response and the level of damage caused by the inferno at the Great Nigeria Insurance building within the Balogun axis.
Sanwo-Olu disclosed that three of the eight recovered bodies were severely charred and could not be visually identified. He said DNA tests would be conducted to establish the identities of the affected persons and reunite them with their families.
According to the governor, five of the recovered bodies had already been identified by relatives. He added that rescue and emergency teams remained on the ground to comb through the rubble in case more persons were still trapped.
Firefighters from the Lagos State Fire Service, officials of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, the National Emergency Management Agency, and security agencies continue coordinated operations at the site.
Following his inspection, Sanwo-Olu extended the assessment to adjoining streets in the Balogun Market, where he ordered an integrity audit of standing buildings affected by the incident.
The governor observed widespread violations of building regulations, including unapproved structures, industrial generators placed on upper floors, and shops located dangerously close to power installations.
He described the level of non-compliance as reckless and ordered a comprehensive regeneration of the Balogun Market to restore safety, order, and aesthetics.
Sanwo-Olu stressed that disregard for safety rules endangers lives and livelihoods, noting that illegal trading activities also delayed emergency access during the incident.
He assured residents and traders that the state government would take firm but necessary steps to prevent future occurrences and safeguard public safety.
