By Ifeanyi Nwegbu
Calls for urgent market safety reforms intensified on Tuesday following the deadly Christmas Eve fire that gutted the 25-storey Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House on Martins Street, Balogun Market, Lagos.
The fire, which reportedly started on the fourth floor late on December 24, spread rapidly, destroying goods worth billions of naira, collapsing parts of the building, and trapping occupants beneath rubble.
Emergency responders battled the inferno for days, with recovery operations entering their seventh day as smoke continued to rise from the site.
In a statement, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) urged stronger fire safety standards, emergency preparedness, and risk-mitigation measures across market districts.
“Protecting markets is both a safety and economic necessity. SMEs must be safeguarded to sustain growth,” said Dr. Chinyere Almona, LCCI Director-General, noting that fewer than five per cent of SMEs have adequate insurance coverage.
Traders in Balogun Market described the losses as devastating, blaming congested structures, poor safety planning, and narrow access routes for worsening the disaster.
Families of missing victims continued to appeal for intensified rescue efforts as search operations progressed.
Reacting to the tragedy, former presidential candidate Peter Obi called for improved emergency services and stronger safety regulations, while Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu ordered evacuations around the site and said the damaged building would be demolished once declared safe.
The incident has disrupted commercial activities along Martins Street and renewed concerns over safety standards in Lagos’ high-density market zones.
