Fire Guts National Assembly Complex In Abuja

Save for the timely intervention of officers and men of the fire fighting service of the National Assembly a fire outbreak at the main building of the assembly complex this afternoon would have resulted into a very major catastrophe. An eye witness said that the fire started at the office of the Secretary to the Clerk National Assembly (CNA) on the third floor of the main building by about 1.00pm.
The heavy smoke bellowing from the office attracted the attention of one of the sergeant-at-arms who quickly raised alarm and contacted men of the fire fighting services, which office was just a stone throw away. The fire fighters promptly rushed to the scene of the outbreak and struggled to put it out before serious damage could be done.

Although the major cause of the fire outbreak could not be immediately ascertained, it was suspected that the incident resulted from electrical cause. One of the fire fighters who participated in putting out the fire narrated how the incident took place.

"The fire started at about 1pm. We were in our office just there (pointing to their office nearby) when one of these sergeant-at-arms rushed to our office and shouting that there was fire." "When we got there the whole place was covered with smoke we could not find our way through easily. Apart from that, there was nobody to bring the keys and open the offices for us to move in.

"We were just there struggling to see how we can enter until one of us just forced one door open before we could enter. If not that it is a place we are very familiar with we, we could have found it difficult to locate the actual place. But we were able to locate the office. They said it is the office of the secretary to the CNA. By the time we got there the whole office was smoking heavily but we were able to tackle it before the fire could spread into other offices," he said.

Chief Security of the National Assembly, Col. Emeka Okere (rtd) and some of his staff were on hand to ensure that nobody was allowed entry into the building. Men of the fire fighting services were also there sweeping out the flood of water used in quelling the fire.

Also, the fire fighting lorry used putting out the fire with registration number, NASS, FL 278 Mgt was stationed in front of the main building. The air around the entire vicinity of the main building was oozing out the smell of burnt debris. Gaining entry into the National Assembly on its own was a very difficult task as security in and around the assembly complex was very very tight.

The entire eagle square leading into the National Assembly was cordoned off by the combined security agencies, including the army, police, Directorate of State Security (DSS), Civil defence, men of the directorate of traffic service (VIO), road safety etc. The Eagle Square was being prepared for a special parade that would be inspected by President Goodluck Jonathan as part of the events to mark this year's Armed Forces remembrance day.