The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service has explained why the fire outbreak at the Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, took several hours to contain.
Just news line reports that the fire started in the 25-storey building around 5 p.m. on Wednesday and continued into Thursday despite the early deployment of firefighting crews.
What began as a blaze on the fifth floor around 5 pm on December 24 rapidly escalated, spreading to at least five adjoining structures, including the old Lagos Central Mosque, before emergency teams declared it under control on Christmas Day.
In a statement issued via X on Thursday, the Controller General of the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, Margaret Adeseye, said the distress call was received at 4:41 pm, with firefighters arriving at the scene at 4:53 pm.
Explaining the delay in containing the fire, the service said the operation was challenged by poor storage practices, the presence of highly combustible materials and the conjoined nature of surrounding buildings.
According to the fire service, the blaze originated on the fifth floor of the building, which is largely used as warehouse storage and sales outlets for clothing materials, alongside corporate offices and a few retail shops.