Sanwo-Olu to Revisit Burnt GNI Building as LASEMA Opens Missing Persons Help Desk

Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, is expected to return to the scene of the fire-ravaged Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building on Lagos Island on Friday, January 2, 2026, as authorities intensify post-incident assessment and response efforts.

The 25-storey commercial building was engulfed by a massive inferno on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2025, an incident that has resulted in six confirmed fatalities. The governor’s planned visit, it was learnt, will centre on a detailed evaluation of the structure ahead of a proposed controlled demolition, following reports that integrity tests have shown extensive structural damage to the building.

In response to mounting concerns from members of the public, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) has established a Help Desk at the site to document and investigate reports of individuals believed to be missing after the fire.

Confirming the development, LASEMA’s Permanent Secretary, Dr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the initiative was prompted by appeals from families who fear that some victims may still be trapped beneath debris from the collapsed sections of the building.

He expressed condolences to bereaved families and assured them of the government’s commitment to a thorough rescue and recovery operation.

According to Oke-Osanyintolu, the Help Desk will serve as a central point for receiving and verifying information on suspected missing persons, with all submissions carefully documented to aid identification and recovery efforts.

He added that emergency teams remain on ground and will continue to search the site comprehensively to ensure that no victim is left unaccounted for as recovery operations progress.