A fire outbreak in the Senate wing of the National Assembly was quickly contained on Wednesday, preventing it from spreading beyond the kitchen compartment of Hearing Room 107.
The incident occurred shortly after the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC, concluded the screening of Dr. Zainab Marwa as the member representing the North East on the commission’s board.
It was gathered that the fire emanated from a microwave oven left on in the kitchen area which led to smoke from the fire to rapidly filled the hearing room, causing brief commotion among officials and journalists present.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong (Cross River South), and Senator Salihu Mustapha (Kwara Central) swiftly intervened to put out the fire before it could escalate.
The quick action of the two lawmakers ensured the fire was extinguished and normal activities resumed shortly after.
No injuries or significant damage to property were reported as at the time of filing this report.
Earlier during the screening, lawmakers expressed satisfaction with the response of Marwa to the questions put to her over the new role in the NDDC.
President Bola Tinubu had last week asked the Senate to confirm the nominee as a member of the Governing Board of the NDDC.
The Senate President Godswill Akpabio, who read the letter containing the request during plenary, referred it to the committee for legislative process and report back within two weeks