A minor fire incident occurred on Wednesday at Senate Committee Hearing Room 107, located on the first floor of the National Assembly’s new building, shortly after the screening of Dr. Zainab Marwa, the nominee for the North-East representative position on the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The incident sparked brief concern among Senate staff, visitors, and journalists who had gathered to cover the screening exercise.
Witnesses said the fire broke out moments after the session ended. Staff members attached to the Senate Committee on NDDC swiftly responded by deploying fire extinguishers, successfully containing the flames before they could spread.
The National Assembly complex is equipped with fire extinguishers strategically positioned across its facilities as part of its safety measures.
Sources at the scene suggested that the fire may have originated from a microwave appliance left unattended in a nearby kitchen area. However, officials had yet to issue an official statement on the cause of the incident as of the time of filing this report.
There were also reports that some committee staff cautioned journalists against reporting the incident and allegedly requested photographers and cameramen to delete images taken during the outbreak.
Despite the brief disruption, normal activities quickly resumed within the complex, with staff and visitors continuing their duties without further incident.
No injuries or significant damage were reported.
