Fire Razes Fifth Tallest Building in Lagos

It was a bad day for traders at and office owners at the Balogun Market on the Lagos Island on Monday, as fire engulfed the Great Nigeria House located on Martins Street, Lagos Island.

The cause of the fire is yet to be known but it was learnt that it began from the first floor of the 22-storeyed building in the early hours of Monday. By late morning, the fire had spread to the fourth floor, destroying goods and office materials.

Many tenants remained stranded and frustrated even as staff of the Mainstreet Bank, which occupies part of the building, could not go in for work.

It was learnt that nobody was hurt in the fire, since it started before resumption period, but it hampered activities at the market as the traders scampered to rescue their goods thinking the fire could spread.

Witnesses confirmed that men of the Nigerian Fire Service received the distress call early, but had a hectic time finding their way to the scene of the incident. By the time they got to the building, the fire had spread.