Panic briefly gripped the National Assembly on Wednesday after a fire incident occurred in the Senate section of the complex in Abuja.
The fire was reported in Hearing Room 107 shortly after members of the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission concluded the screening of Dr. Zainab Marwa, who was nominated to represent the North-East on the board of the commission.
The unexpected incident caused concern among workers, visitors and other persons within the area as efforts were immediately made to prevent the fire from spreading to other sections of the building.
Staff members of the National Assembly quickly responded to the situation by deploying fire extinguishers to tackle the flames. Their prompt action helped contain the fire before it could cause extensive damage within the facility.
Videos circulating from the scene showed workers actively battling the fire while people nearby watched as emergency measures were carried out. The swift response appeared to prevent the situation from escalating into a larger emergency.
As of the time the incident became public, there were no reports of injuries, deaths or persons trapped in the affected area. Authorities were yet to release details regarding the extent of damage caused by the fire.
Preliminary reports indicated that the fire may have started from a microwave appliance believed to have been left powered on in a kitchen section close to the affected area. However, officials had not issued a formal statement confirming the exact cause of the incident.
The incident occurred only moments after the conclusion of an official Senate screening exercise, making the development a major talking point within the National Assembly complex.
In the aftermath of the fire, reports indicated that some journalists covering activities at the National Assembly were directed by committee officials to remove photographs and video recordings taken during the incident. The reason for the instruction was not immediately made known.
The fire has renewed attention on safety measures within public institutions, particularly in buildings that host large numbers of workers, lawmakers and visitors daily. While the situation was brought under control without casualties, many observers believe a thorough assessment will be necessary to determine the cause and prevent similar incidents in the future.
Authorities are expected to provide further details after investigations into the incident are completed.