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Distressed GNI house under demolition
By FABIAN EKERUCHE
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has inspected the ongoing controlled demolition of the distressed Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House on Lagos Island.
The Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, conducted the inspection at the demolition site on Martins Street on Friday.
This is contained in a statement signed by the permanent secretary and made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Lagos.
Oke-Osanyintolu ascended to the building’s 22nd floor using a demolition crane to assess workers’ safety and compliance with protective equipment requirements.
He also evaluated the performance of the heavy-duty machinery deployed for the exercise and inspected the cordoned-off perimeter around the building.
The permanent secretary said the demolition would continue in a slow, steady and professionally controlled manner to protect lives and adjoining properties.
He assured residents, traders and motorists that LASEMA and relevant agencies would manage traffic diversions and minimise disruptions around the area.
Oke-Osanyintolu urged members of the public to avoid the immediate surroundings, obey safety instructions and use designated alternative routes.
He appreciated the cooperation and patience of residents, business owners and motorists in the vicinity of the demolition site.
He reiterated the agency’s commitment to safeguarding lives and property, adding that measures had been put in place to ensure the safe completion of the exercise.
NAN reports that the 25-storey GNI House, located on Martins Street in the Balogun Market area of Lagos Island, was gutted by fire on Dec. 24, 2025.
The fire reportedly started on the fifth floor at about 5 p.m. and spread to adjoining structures, including the old Lagos Central Mosque.
The blaze caused extensive damage to the building and nearby shops, while part of the structure collapsed during the incident.
Following the fire, Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered the building’s demolition after a structural assessment raised safety concerns.
LASEMA subsequently announced that the controlled demolition would commence on Oct. 15, 2026, following assessments that identified the structure as a significant public safety risk.
The agency said access to the site would remain restricted, with temporary traffic diversions on adjoining streets throughout the operation. (NAN)
