Recovery operations at the site of the Great Nigeria Insurance Building on Martins Street, Lagos Island, have intensified, with the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) facilitating the deployment of heavy-duty equipment to speed up debris clearance.
The 23-storey building was gutted by a major fire on December 24, 2025.
Despite the complex nature of the operation due to the precarious structural stability of the high-rise, significant progress has been recorded. NEMA confirmed that four burnt bodies were recovered from beneath the rubble.
The bodies have been documented and handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit (SEHMU) for forensic identification and dignified handling.
To manage the structural risks, NEMA engaged the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to deploy specialized heavy equipment for controlled excavation.
The operation is being closely supervised by the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) and the Lagos Waste Management Authority (LAWMA).
The incident perimeter remains fully secured by military and police personnel to restrict unauthorised access and ensure the safety of emergency workers and the public.
Meanwhile, a strategic coordination meeting was held involving NEMA’s Lagos Operations Office and key state officials, including the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr. Gbenga Oyerinde, and the Special Adviser on GIS and Urban Development, Dr. Olajide Babatunde.
The stakeholders focused on planning the next phases of the operation, which include structural integrity assessments, controlled demolition of unstable sections, and eventual site rehabilitation.
Authorities maintain that all activities at the site remain under the jurisdiction of the Lagos State Government, with NEMA providing critical technical and operational backing.