Senators, staff flee as fire erupts in National Assembly Hearing Room

A fire outbreak at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja on Wednesday  triggered panic within the Senate wing, forcing lawmakers, staff members, and visitors to evacuate a hearing room.

The incident occurred in Senate Hearing Room 107 shortly after Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, Chairman of the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), concluded the screening of Dr. Zainab Marwa for appointment to the NDDC board as the North-East representative.

According to eyewitnesses, thick smoke suddenly emerged from the kitchen area attached to the hearing room, creating confusion and prompting senators, legislative aides, and guests to rush out of the venue.

The staff of the committee and security personnel made efforts to contain the blaze and prevent it from spreading.

Some individuals at the scene speculated that an electrical appliance in the kitchen may have sparked the fire, although authorities had yet to officially determine the cause.

Attempts to extinguish the fire were reportedly hindered by inadequate access to water and concerns about the availability of firefighting equipment within the complex.

The situation was eventually brought under control through the combined efforts of lawmakers and support staff, preventing further damage to other sections of the building.

Sources said the fire was confined to the kitchen section adjoining the hearing room, an area containing furniture and electrical appliances.

No injuries or fatalities were recorded, and there were no immediate reports of damage to official documents or critical legislative facilities.

As of the time of filing this report, the Senate had not released an official statement regarding the cause of the fire or the extent of the damage.