By Ghazali Ibrahim
A fire incident was recorded on Wednesday at the National Assembly complex in Abuja after flames engulfed part of the wing housing the Nigerian Senate.
The fire reportedly occurred at Hearing Room 107 shortly after the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) concluded the screening of Dr. Zainab Marwa, the North-East nominee for the commission’s board.
According to reports, the blaze originated from the kitchen section of the hearing room but was swiftly brought under control before it could spread to other parts of the building.
Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong and Salihu Mustapha were said to have played key roles in the emergency response, helping to extinguish the fire and prevent a potentially more serious situation.
Preliminary findings suggest the incident may have been caused by a microwave oven that was left switched on in the kitchen area.
No casualties were reported, and normal activities at the National Assembly resumed shortly after the incident was brought under control.
Meanwhile, reports indicate that journalists who captured images and videos of the fire were instructed by committee officials to delete the footage after the incident.
Authorities have yet to issue an official statement on the development.
