The Lagos State government has begun compiling a list of missing persons following the recent fire at the Great Nigeria Insurance (GNI) building on Martins Street, Lagos Island.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Thursday, January 1, by Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA).
According to Oke-Osanyintolu, residents of the state and the general public have been urged to come forward with the names of relatives or associates who may have gone missing following the incident.
He said the initiative by the state government is crucial to addressing concerns over the specific number of people trapped under the rubble of the collapsed section of the building.
He noted that the state government through LASEMA is committed to continuing with the search and rescue operation on the building to ensure that no stone is left unturned.
Oke-Osanyintolu said, “The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency wishes to reassure the public that search and rescue operations are ongoing.”
He added that LASEMA’s trained officers and responders are working around the clock to ensure that no individual is left uncounted for.
“Our trained responders, supported by specialised equipment, are working tirelessly to ensure that all affected areas are fully assessed and that no one is left unaccounted for,” he said.
In addition, relatives and loved ones of the missing persons are expected to visit the LASEMA Complaints Unit at the scene of the incident to register their concerns and the names of the suspected victims.
Oke-Osanyintolu assured the public that all names collated would be verified and further used to compile a consolidated missing persons’ list to aid rescue and identification efforts.
