By Kingston Magare 8.1.2026
The Lagos State Fire Service has been accused of demanding for N35m before they could fight the fire that engulfed the Great Nigeria Insurance House Lagos Island on Christmas Eve.
For more than five hours the fire raged at the 25-story building located at the popular Balogun market on Martins Street. Some traders who went into the building to retrieve their goods were trapped and killed in the blaze.
A relative of one those deceased revealed that the fire could have been put under control if the Lagos Fire Service had sprung into action when they first arrived. According to him for two hours the fire fighters stood idly by.
“The first set of Fire Service officials that came, they brought things and joining them together, but they did not start work immediately,” Basil Ndedigwe, a bereaved trader told the Peoples Gazette in an interview.
“They were asking the market managers to give them N35 million before they could start work. Some were asking them, ‘do you think N35 million is something that someone will deep hands into pocket and give you? It’s something they will call for a meeting, and before calling for a meeting, you’ll see that the fire will escalate everywhere.’ So, they had been there.
“After two hours, when they saw that the fire has been escalating…because it started from the five-storey attachment to that 25-storey building. So, it’s when they saw that the fire is spreading to that, before they started doing water like this. Small time, they said that the water had finished in the tank. That’s why if one say that let Nigeria not happen to you, that person is giving you a good prayer because if Nigeria happens to you, you will fall to abyss.”
The Lagos State government officials said they were aware of the allegations and the governor Babajide Sanwo Olu has been taken aback by the allegations.
“We heard it, and even the governor was appalled. Let’s even subject it to critical thinking and reasoning. Is it possible? There is fire and people will now say bring N35 million. Who is that person that will say that kind of thing? I don’t understand.
“But I can tell you there is no official of the Lagos State Government Fire Service that will do that, and if there is anybody found to have done that, I know Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu will not hesitate to take very strict disciplinary action agaisnt the person or persons,” said Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Media and Publicity, Gboyega Akosile.
Lagos governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu at the scene of the disaster.