Abuja, Nigeria — Panic briefly erupted at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja after a fire broke out in one of the Senate hearing rooms, forcing lawmakers, staff members, and visitors to evacuate the area.
The incident occurred at Senate Hearing Room 107 shortly after a screening exercise conducted by the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). Witnesses reported that thick smoke suddenly emerged from an adjoining kitchen area, prompting an immediate evacuation of the facility.
Lawmakers and parliamentary staff were seen rushing out of the hearing room as the fire spread through parts of the attached kitchen section. The disruption temporarily halted activities within the area while emergency efforts were mobilized to contain the blaze.
Preliminary reports suggest that the fire may have originated from an electrical fault involving a kitchen appliance, although some eyewitnesses also raised concerns about a possible gas-related incident. Authorities have yet to officially confirm the exact cause of the outbreak.
Sources within the National Assembly indicated that security personnel and staff members quickly responded to the emergency, helping to prevent the fire from spreading to other sections of the building. The flames were eventually brought under control without any reported loss of life or serious injuries.
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