By Nkechi Eze
Coordinated emergency response operations have continued at the scene of the fire disaster involving the Great Nigeria Insurance House building at Marina, Lagos Island, as the Lagos State Government reaffirmed its commitment to working closely with the Federal Government and key stakeholders to ensure a safe and successful conclusion to rescue and recovery efforts.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Thursday paid an official visit to the incident site, where he was taken round the affected area by operational leads overseeing the response. During the visit, the governor commended the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and other responding organisations for the professionalism, resilience and dedication they have demonstrated since the incident occurred.
Governor Sanwo-Olu noted that the structural integrity of the distressed high-rise building remained a major concern, stressing that extreme caution was required to protect the lives of emergency responders and members of the public. He disclosed that arrangements were being finalised to mobilise specialised resources for the controlled demolition of the weakened structure, after which accumulated debris would be safely cleared in line with established safety standards.
The governor also praised the establishment of a Help Desk close to the disaster site, describing it as a critical platform for providing accurate information to the public and offering support to those affected by the incident. The Help Desk is jointly manned by NEMA, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), the Local Emergency Management Committee and other stakeholders.
Reaffirming the state government’s resolve, Governor Sanwo-Olu assured that Lagos State would continue to collaborate closely with the Federal Government and all relevant agencies to ensure that response and recovery operations are carried out effectively and without compromise to safety.
It would be recalled that the Director General of NEMA, Mrs. Zubaida Umar, had earlier deployed the Agency’s Director of Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Bature Usman, to Lagos to lead a technical support team from the NEMA Headquarters. The team is working in synergy with the NEMA Lagos Operations Office and other emergency response stakeholders to strengthen coordination, enhance situational assessment and ensure the safety of both responders and the general public.
NEMA has reiterated its commitment to supporting the people and Government of Lagos State throughout the response and recovery phases of the incident, as efforts continue to mitigate the impact of the disaster and restore safety to the affected area.
