Nigeria, Dec. 25 -- Emergency responders battled through the early hours of Christmas Day to contain a massive fire that engulfed the 22-storey Great Nigeria Insurance House on Martins Street, Lagos Island, with the blaze spreading to at least four neighbouring buildings.

The fire, which broke out on Wednesday evening, continued for more than 10 hours, causing extensive damage in one of Lagos' busiest commercial districts.

Video footage from the scene, shared by the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on Thursday morning, showed thick plumes of smoke billowing from multiple floors of the high-rise, with bright flames visible from a distance and debris scattered across adjoining streets.

According to preliminary reports, the fire starte...