Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Governor of Lagos State, has confirmed eight (8) fatalities, thirteen (13) survivors at the fire incident that happened at the Great Nigeria Insurance Building.
This was made known in a statement released by the Lagos State Government on Friday 2 January, 2026.
Sanwo-Olu inspected possible building code violations at Balogun Market, as well as, ordered integrity audit of standing buildings.
DNA will be carried out on three bodies burnt beyond recognition.
The Governor said, after conducting a “non-professional assessment” around the GNI Building area, he found “a lot of recklessness and carelessness on the part of the traders”.
He continued, shops were erected very close to electric transformers, and industrial generators were placed on floors of some buildings.
Sanwo-Olu said, his administration will commence a “complete regeneration” of the entire area.
The Statement by the LASG reads: “Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Friday, returned to the scene of the Christmas Eve fire at Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building on Martins Street, Lagos Island, to assess the emergency response at the site.
“The State’s firefighters and emergency management team, joined by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and security agencies, are yet to leave the site, combing the debris for rescue of possible survivors that could be trapped.
“Sanwo-Olu, at the fire site, confirmed the death of eight victims in the inferno, with three of them burnt beyond recognition. Thirteen traders trapped in the rubbles were rescued alive by the combined team of first responders.
“Five bodies, the Governor disclosed, had been identified by their families, pointing out that the State Government would conduct DNA tests on the three charred bodies evaluated from the site to identify their families.
“After assessing the magnitude of the damage done by the GNI building fire on surrounding buildings, Sanwo-Olu moved round the adjoining streets within the Balogun Market to audit the high-rise buildings.
“Revelation pointed to many contraventions and flouting of building codes by the traders in the Balogun market, prompting Sanwo-Olu to direct complete regeneration of the market for restoration of its aesthetics and space.
“He said: “In the last one hour, I’ve gone round the streets within the market. From a non-professional assessment, it was clear that most of the buildings in the market are completely distressed. But, we will conduct a professional assessment on all the buildings to ascertain our findings. We will not sit back and listen to people doing as they like. Lives have been lost, properties destroyed and means of livelihood shattered.
““We have seen that there has been a lot of recklessness and carelessness on the part of the traders. Going round the market, I personally counted over 14 industrial generators placed on the fourth floor and fifth floor of some buildings. We saw unapproved structures built on original floors approved in certain buildings. I saw shops built next to electric transformers, which goes to show how traders have been careless with their lives.
““This is an opportunity for us to embark on complete regeneration of the whole area. We are sending message to property owners and developers to come forward; we will be evaluating all the buildings in the market. Regenerating the trading space is going to be a tough decision for us but it is a proper step to take to preserve lives and properties. We will not shy away from taking this responsibility.””
