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LASG Prepares Great Nigeria Insurance Building for Demolition

..the Lagos State Government has constituted a Technical Recovery and Demolition Committee, chaired by the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations

Published

3 weeks ago

January 3, 2026

OCHEFA

73 Views

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service declared that the fire that engulfed the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) Building has significantly weakened the building’s foundation, rendering it structurally unsafe and unfit for any commercial use.

Margaret Adeseye, Controller -General Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, stated this while giving a comprehensive update on the fire incident.

She explained that following a second on-site assessment by the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on January 2nd, 2025, the Lagos State Government has constituted a Technical Recovery and Demolition Committee, chaired by the Honourable Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations.

The committee is tasked with developing and implementing a controlled and safe demolition plan for the affected structure and its immediate surroundings in the shortest possible time, while prioritising public and responder safety.

Current Situation on Ground

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, alongside sister emergency agencies, remains fully deployed on-site.
The incident scene is highly sensitive and volatile, with substantial rubble still in place.
There are intermittent pockets of fire, primarily originating from combustible materials such as textiles and clothing stockpiled within the building, not from the structural elements of the building itself.
These materials are buried deep within the debris, and accessing them requires extreme caution and specialised technical planning.

It is important to clarify that:

The presence of these pocket fires does not pose immediate external danger; however, improper or hurried evacuation of debris could compromise the already weakened structure.
Some rubble may currently be providing unintended structural support, and removing it without a carefully sequenced plan could trigger a collapse, endangering first responders.
For this reason, all operations are being conducted in line with global disaster response best practices, ensuring that rescuer safety precedes all other actions.
As universally recognised in emergency management, disasters of this nature may take days, weeks, or even months to fully resolve.

Public Safety Advisory

The entire area remains unsafe for commercial or public activity.

The market and surrounding areas remain closed.
Only authorised first responders are permitted within the cordoned zone.
The public is urged to remain calm and cooperative, understanding that their safety is directly linked to the safety of emergency personnel.
An Information Centre has been established at the site to address enquiries from families, stakeholders, and the general public.

Casualties

8 fatalities have been confirmed (5 identified, 3 yet to be identified).
13 persons have been successfully rescued.
Search operations continue, particularly in safer sections of the debris, to ensure no one remains trapped.

Preliminary Observations
Preliminary assessments indicate serious fire safety violations, including:

Overstocking of combustible materials from floor to ceiling with little or no ventilation.
Absence of proper fire safety infrastructure.
Unsafe market practices such as generator usage within buildings, shops constructed around transformers, and other hazardous activities.
Such conditions can lead to self-generated heat build-up and spontaneous ignition, even without external triggers.

Global Context
For perspective, similar complex fire recovery operations have occurred worldwide.

Notably, firefighting and recovery operations at the World Trade Center (Ground Zero) in New York lasted over 100 days, with underground fires officially extinguished nearly three months after the incident, and full recovery concluding more than eight months later.

These realities underscore the complexity and time-intensive nature of large-scale structural fire incidents.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reassures the public that all actions being taken are deliberate, professional, and safety-driven.

Operations will continue until ground zero is fully reached, all risks are eliminated, and the incident is conclusively resolved.

We appreciate the patience, understanding, and cooperation of Lagosians during this period.

Your safety is our priority. A safe rescuer ensures a safe rescue.”

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President Tinubu’s visiting Turkiye tomorrow

The visit is aimed at strengthening the existing cordial relations between the two countries and exploring further areas of cooperation in security, education, social development, innovation, and aviation.

Published

3 hours ago

January 25, 2026

OCHEFA

6 Views

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will depart Abuja on Monday, January 26, for a state visit to the Republic of Türkiye.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid an official visit to Nigeria from October 19 to 20, 2021.

Bayo Onanuga , Special Adviser to the President(Information & Strategy), said that during President Tinubu’s visit, both countries will engage in strategic political and diplomatic discussions on shared values in finance, communication, trade and investment.

The agenda will include meetings between high-ranking officials of both nations and the signing of memoranda of understanding (MoUs) in scientific research, energy, technical cooperation, media and communications, military cooperation and protocol, among others.

A business forum will bring together investors from both countries to explore areas of interest during the visit.

Members of the President’s entourage participating in the bilateral discussions include: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar; Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi SAN; Minister of Defence, General Christopher Musa (rtd) and Chairman, House Committee on Defence, Hon. Jimi Benson.

Others are: Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim; Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo; Minister of Culture and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa; National Security Adviser, Malam Nuhu Ribadu; and Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency, Ambassador Mohammed Mohammed.

President Tinubu is expected to return to the country at the conclusion of the visit.

News

Lagos Fire Service Contains Warehouse Fire at Amuwo-Odofin Industrial Area (Photos)

Published

10 hours ago

January 25, 2026

Charles Flames

19 Views

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service (LSFRS) responded to a distress call at 20:29 hours regarding a fire outbreak at an expansive warehouse located on Coker Market Road, Amuwo-Odofin Industrial Layout, Mile 2, Lagos.

Firefighting crews arrived the scene promptly at 20:40 hours. Firefighters from the Ajegunle, Sari Iganmu, Okota, and Alausa Fire Stations were immediately mobilised to combat the blaze.

The affected warehouse was stocked with chemical materials stored in hundreds of 200-litre drums, posing significant risk.

Through swift and coordinated intervention, the fire was brought under control, preventing further escalation and damage to adjoining facilities. Fortunately, no casualties were recorded.

The cause of the fire outbreak is yet to be ascertained, as investigations are currently ongoing to determine the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service reiterates its commitment to safeguarding lives and property and urges residents and business owners to adhere strictly to fire safety regulations at all times.

News

Senator Oluremi Tinubu Calls for Human-Centered Approach to AI in Education on International Day of Education 2026

Published

11 hours ago

January 25, 2026

Charles Flames

24 Views

In a message issued to mark the International Day of Education, Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, urged Nigerians and the global community to prioritize human agency amid the rise of artificial intelligence in learning environments.

This year’s observance, held annually on January 24 under United Nations auspices, carries the theme “AI and Education: Preserving Human Agency in a World of Automation.”

The First Lady emphasized that education continues to serve as the most powerful instrument for equipping individuals with knowledge, values, creativity, and ethical judgment essential for success in a fast-changing, technology-driven era.

“As we embrace artificial intelligence and innovation, we must ensure that technology serves humanity, not the other way around,” Senator Tinubu stated.

“Humans must remain the drivers of AI, harnessing innovation while preserving the values that define us and sustain development.

”Highlighting Nigeria’s national priorities, she reaffirmed the government’s commitment to investing in quality and inclusive education that enables children and youth to develop critical thinking, act with responsibility, and approach the future with confidence and compassion.

The First Lady’s message aligns with broader global discussions on balancing technological advancement with the irreplaceable role of human insight in education systems.

She concluded her address with warm greetings:

“Happy International Day of Education 2026.