A fire outbreak on Wednesday caused panic at the Senate wing of the National Assembly Complex in Abuja, forcing lawmakers, staff, and visitors to flee the building.

The incident occurred at Senate Hearing Room 107 shortly after a committee session of the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), chaired by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, had concluded a screening exercise.

Eyewitnesses said smoke suddenly filled the room from an adjoining kitchen area, triggering confusion as occupants rushed out before the situation could be brought under control.

Some staff members reportedly attributed the fire to a microwave left unattended, while others struggled to contain the flames with limited firefighting equipment available at the scene.

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Video footage from the incident showed attempts to put out the fire being hampered by inadequate water supply, with individuals calling for more resources to control the blaze.

There were also concerns raised about the absence of functional fire extinguishers near the affected area, as staff and security personnel worked together to prevent the fire from spreading further.

The situation was eventually brought under control through the intervention of lawmakers and parliamentary staff, who assisted in extinguishing the fire before it escalated into a larger disaster.

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The kitchen section attached to the hearing room reportedly sustained visible damage as a result of the incident.

The Senate is yet to issue an official statement on the cause of the fire or the extent of the damage, while further details are still being awaited.

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