Lagos commences enumeration exercise for GNI fire victims

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The Lagos State Government has begun an enumeration exercise for those affected by the fire incident at the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, which occurred on Christmas Eve in 2025.

According to a statement from the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Damilola Oke-Osanyintolu, the exercise commenced on Monday and is scheduled to continue until February 13, 2026.

Dr Oke-Osanyintolu added that family members of the victims are to present themselves at the Adeyemi Bero Centre, Alausa Secretariat in Ikeja, for documentation and record-taking.

“The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, in collaboration with the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, wishes to inform members of the public that a victim enumeration exercise has been scheduled as part of post-incident recovery activities following the GNI House fire,” the statement read.

He explained that the exercise is aimed at proper documentation, recovery planning and follow-up support for victims and their families.

“Relatives of victims and individuals affected by the GNI fire disaster are requested to present themselves for enumeration. This exercise is essential for documentation, recovery support, and appropriate follow-up actions,” the statement added.

Recall that the Christmas Eve inferno razed the 25-storey commercial building, formerly known as GNI House, claiming at least 12 lives and causing extensive damage to surrounding properties.

According to the National Emergency Management Agency, bodies recovered from the scene were properly documented and handed over to the Lagos State Environmental Health Monitoring Unit, SHEMU, for forensic identification and dignified handling.