By: Tijani Salako

Following the deadly fire outbreak at the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House, the Building Collapse Prevention Guild (BCPG), Lagos Island Cell, has raised fresh concerns over the safety of high-rise buildings on Lagos Island, warning that repeated fire incidents now pose an imminent risk of building collapse and further loss of life.

The statement was disclosed in a press release signed by the coordinator, Bldr. Mubarak Gbaja-Biamila, and the Secretary, ESV. Femi Oyedele, of the Building Collapse Prevention Guild, Lagos Island Cell.

The professional body expressed condolences to families who lost loved ones and property in the Christmas Eve fire, describing the tragedy as a reflection of long-standing systemic failures in fire safety compliance, building maintenance, and regulatory oversight within Lagos Island’s Central Business District.

According to the Guild statement, “the GNI House fire is not an isolated incident but part of a recurring pattern of high-rise fires that have plagued Lagos Island for more than a decade.

“Records compiled by the organisation show that since 2013, several prominent towers including Financial Trust House, Bookshop House, UBA House, Elephant House, Unity House, Western House, Chellarams Building, Independence House, Afriland Tower, and Mandilas House have all suffered fire outbreaks of varying severity.

BCPG noted that “the GNI House itself has experienced multiple major fires in its history, describing the repeated incidents as evidence of unresolved operational safety failures.

“The most recent inferno reportedly burned continuously for over six days despite the intervention of federal and state emergency agencies, underscoring what the Guild described as the limits of Lagos Island’s current high-rise firefighting capacity.

“Following a visual assessment of the site, the Guild warned that the partially collapsed structure remains dangerously unstable and poses a serious threat to surrounding streets, including Martins Street, Nnamdi Azikiwe Street, Gbajumo Street, Kosoko Street, and Alli Balogun Street.

“Members of the Guild reported incidents of explosive concrete spalling during the fire, with burning fragments flying across adjacent roads and forcing pedestrians to flee.

“The fire also spread to nearby buildings, leaving several structures structurally compromised. Among the affected properties is the historic Shitta-Bey Mosque, a more than 130-year-old landmark, raising concerns about the vulnerability of Lagos Island’s cultural heritage to fire disasters and unregulated urban development.

“BCPG attributed the frequency and severity of the fires largely to unsafe building use, particularly the conversion of office towers into warehouses and shops packed with combustible materials.

The Guild said such practices, combined with inadequate setbacks, blocked access roads, and poor enforcement of fire safety regulations, have created conditions ripe for large-scale disasters.

“The group further raised concerns about ongoing refurbishment works at LSDPC House, where heavy steel attachments are reportedly being added to an existing high-rise structure. BCPG called on relevant authorities to clarify whether proper approvals, structural assessments, and fire safety reviews were conducted before the modifications commenced.

Despite the deployment of multiple fire engines, water tankers, and an aerial ladder truck capable of reaching the 13th floor, firefighters were said to have faced significant challenges. Congested access routes, distance from reliable water sources, and crowd interference reportedly hampered firefighting operations. As of December 29, 2025, emergency responders were still damping down pockets of fire within the building.

Beyond the human toll, the Guild highlighted the broader economic consequences of recurring fire outbreaks across Lagos State. Citing official figures from the Lagos State Commissioner for Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations, BCPG noted that property losses from fire incidents in the past year alone exceeded ₦19 billion, while assets valued at ₦117 billion were salvaged.

The Guild warned that repeated disruptions to commercial activity on Lagos Island, Nigeria’s foremost business district could erode investor confidence, displace businesses, and undermine Lagos’ reputation as a secure hub for trade and investment.

In response to the latest incident, BCPG called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and relevant state agencies to take urgent and coordinated action.

The group demanded a comprehensive investigation into the GNI House fire, a 90-day audit of all high-rise buildings on Lagos Island, stricter enforcement of fire safety regulations during the operational life of buildings, and compulsory fire insurance for commercial and high-rise properties.

The Guild also advocated the deployment of modern firefighting equipment capable of tackling skyscraper fires, the establishment of dedicated fire stations near high-rise clusters, the creation of specialised high-rise firefighting units, and the implementation of regular evacuation drills for building occupants.

BCPG further urged the government to order the immediate demolition of the partially collapsed GNI House, warning that leaving the structure standing could result in uncontrolled collapse, additional loss of life, and environmental hazards.