By Our Correspondent
Panic swept through the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Wednesday, after a fire erupted in the Senate wing, triggering alarm among lawmakers, legislative staff and visitors before it was swiftly contained.
Salient Times gathered that the incident 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 nominee representing the North-East geopolitical zone on the board of the commission.
Eyewitnesses said smoke was noticed from the hearing room moments after the screening exercise ended, causing a brief commotion within the Senate wing as officials and visitors rushed to ascertain the source of the fire.
The blaze was traced to the kitchen compartment attached to the hearing room and was quickly brought under control before it could spread to adjoining offices and other sections of the National Assembly complex.
Sources at the scene said Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong and Salihu Mustapha were among those who immediately joined efforts to extinguish the fire, helping to avert what could have developed into a major disaster within the legislative complex.
Preliminary reports indicated that the fire may have been triggered by a microwave oven allegedly left switched on in the kitchen area after proceedings had ended.
However, authorities had yet to issue an official statement confirming the exact cause of the incident as of press time.
No casualties or injuries were recorded, and there was no immediate indication of extensive damage to the facility.
Following the swift response, normal legislative and administrative activities resumed within the National Assembly complex.
