Pandemonium as fire guts national assembly complex

Panic erupted at the national assembly Complex in Abuja on Wednesday following a fire outbreak in the Senate wing of the federal legislature.

The incident, which occurred near a hearing room, caused anxiety among lawmakers, staff and visitors as smoke billowed through parts of the complex.

Videos circulating on social media showed thick smoke filling the affected area while occupants scrambled to contain the situation.

In one of the clips, voices were heard raising alarm over the source of the fire, with one person saying, “The fire came from gas,” while another lamented, “No fire extinguisher.”

Another video captured Senator Ned Nwoko walking out of the affected section as efforts intensified to prevent the fire from spreading.

The incident reportedly occurred shortly after the senate committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission concluded the screening of Dr Zainab Marwa, the North-East nominee for the commission’s board.

According to eyewitness accounts, the fire started in the kitchen compartment attached to the hearing room and was allegedly triggered by a microwave oven that had been left switched on.

Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong and Salihu Mustapha were said to have led efforts to extinguish the flames, alongside other lawmakers and staff members, using available materials, including water and detergents, before the arrival of emergency responders.

Their swift intervention helped to contain the fire and prevented it from spreading to other sections of the building.

No casualty was recorded in the incident, while normal activities reportedly resumed shortly afterwards.

As of the time of filing this report, authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the exact cause of the fire or measures being taken to prevent a recurrence.