A minor fire incident caused a moment of panic at the Senate wing of the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Wednesday after flames broke out close to a hearing room.
Videos shared online showed smoke spreading through parts of the facility as lawmakers and staff members scrambled to contain the situation.
In the footage, some voices were heard speculating about the cause of the incident, with one person saying, “The fire came from gas,” while another remarked, “No fire extinguisher.”
One of the clips also captured Senator Ned Nwoko leaving the area affected by the fire.
According to reports by TVC News, the incident happened shortly after the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission completed the screening of Dr. Zainab Marwa for a position on the commission’s board.
Eyewitnesses reportedly said the fire originated from the kitchen section attached to the hearing room and may have been caused by a microwave left powered on.
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Senators Asuquo Ekpenyong and Salihu Mustapha were said to have joined others in efforts to put out the fire, using available materials, including water and detergents, before it could spread further.
No injuries or fatalities were recorded, and activities around the affected section later returned to normal.
As of the time of filing this report, officials had not released a formal statement detailing the exact cause of the incident or any additional safety measures being considered.