Panic at National Assembly as fire breaks out in Senate wing hearing room

The National Assembly complex in Abuja was thrown into brief panic on Wednesday after a fire outbreak was reported in the Senate wing, disrupting activities and drawing a swift emergency response from staff and security personnel.

The incident occurred at Hearing Room 107 within the Senate section of the complex, shortly after proceedings involving the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (Niger Delta Development Commission), which had just concluded the screening of Dr. Zainab Marwa, a nominee representing the North-East on the commission’s board.

Eyewitnesses and video footage from the scene showed National Assembly staff and support personnel quickly deploying fire extinguishers in a bid to contain the flames before they could spread to adjoining offices.

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The swift response helped bring the situation under control, preventing what could have escalated into a more serious structural incident within the legislative complex.

No casualties or injuries were reported as of the time of filing this report.

Preliminary reports suggest that the fire may have been triggered by an electrical appliance, with sources indicating that a microwave oven left switched on in a kitchen area close to the hearing room could have sparked the blaze.

Authorities are expected to carry out a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the incident and assess any potential damage to equipment and facilities.

In the immediate aftermath of the fire outbreak, confusion reportedly spread across sections of the Senate wing, with legislative staff moving quickly to secure the area and restore order.

Some journalists covering committee proceedings were allegedly instructed by officials to delete photographs and video recordings captured during the incident, though no official explanation was immediately provided for the directive.

Despite the alarm caused by the incident, normalcy was gradually restored within the complex after the fire was extinguished and safety checks were conducted in affected areas.

Security and facility management teams are expected to review safety protocols within the National Assembly to prevent a recurrence of similar incidents.

The fire adds to growing concerns over infrastructure safety in public buildings, particularly in high-traffic government facilities where multiple electrical appliances operate simultaneously.