In a coordinated effort between federal and state authorities, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has mobilized the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) to carry out a controlled demolition of the 22-storey Great Nigeria House on Lagos Island.
The initiative, requested by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, aims to prevent the risk of a secondary collapse in the city’s bustling financial district.
The decision follows the devastating Christmas Eve fire that claimed eight lives and left the skyscraper structurally compromised. Experts have deemed the building beyond salvage, prompting the need for a precise and phased demolition in one of Lagos’ most densely populated commercial areas.
Air Commodore Usman Bature, NEMA Director of Search and Rescue, confirmed that the operation is designed to secure the site, allowing first responders to safely access the deepest layers of the rubble and carry out excavation work.
“The building’s foundation has been severely damaged by intense heat,” a NEMA spokesperson said. “CCECC has deployed heavy machinery and is awaiting final technical clearance to begin the dismantling.”
Governor Sanwo-Olu, who inspected the site on January 2, indicated that the tragedy will catalyze a broader urban regeneration of the Balogun Market area. Authorities also plan to conduct comprehensive safety audits of nearby high-rise buildings, many of which were found to have building code violations during the fire response.
This demolition reflects a critical step toward ensuring public safety while reinforcing urban planning and emergency response protocols in Lagos’ commercial core.
