by George Ozalla
Former Anambra State Governor and Labour Party presidential candidate, Peter Obi, has expressed deep sorrow over the death of three siblings, Stephen Onyeka Omatu, Casmir Nnabuike Omatu and Collins Kenechukwu Omatu, who lost their lives in the fire incident at the Great Nigeria Insurance building in Lagos.
In a post on his verified Facebook page, Obi said he attended the burial of the three brothers and described the experience as deeply emotional and heartbreaking, noting that their deaths represented not only a devastating loss to their family but a national tragedy.
He lamented that the young men were trapped in the burning building for days, during which they reportedly sent repeated distress calls for help without any emergency response, adding that their bodies were only recovered several days later from the rubble. Obi said the incident reflected a grave failure of the system at a critical moment when lives could have been saved.
According to him, the tragedy underscored the urgent need to improve Nigeria’s emergency services and ensure they are functional, responsive and accessible to all citizens, stressing that no Nigerian life should be lost due to neglect or institutional failure.
Obi also prayed for the repose of the souls of the deceased and asked God to grant their family the strength to endure the painful loss, while urging Nigerians and authorities alike to ensure that such a tragedy does not occur again.
The Great Nigeria Insurance building fire, which occurred in Lagos, sparked widespread public outrage and renewed debate over emergency preparedness, building safety and response capacity in Nigeria’s major cities.
