Fire Guts Section of National Assembly Building in Abuja

A section of the National Assembly complex in Abuja was gutted by fire on Wednesday afternoon, Premium Times has reported.

The fire broke out at about 4:56 PM WAT and affected a committee room within the complex. Premium Times reported that the fire was triggered by the explosion of a microwave oven that had been left unattended in the kitchen compartment of the committee room.

Vanguard and Daily Trust also carried the story as the fire sent thick smoke billowing from the building. Emergency responders arrived at the scene to contain the blaze, while parliamentary staff and lawmakers were evacuated from the affected area.

The National Assembly is the seat of Nigeria’s legislative arm of government, housing both the Senate and the House of Representatives. The extent of the damage has not been fully assessed, but officials said the fire was contained before it could spread to other parts of the complex.

This is not the first fire incident at the National Assembly. The complex has experienced similar incidents in the past, raising concerns about fire safety protocols in critical government infrastructure.

The cause of the fire has been attributed to an electrical or appliance malfunction. Further investigations are expected to determine the full extent of the damage.

Sources: Premium Times, Vanguard, Daily Trust