Fire Outbreak At National Assembly Senate Wing Causes Panic, Disrupts NDDC Nominee Screening
10th July, 2026 | News
Fire Incident Briefly Disrupts Senate Proceedings at National Assembly
A minor fire outbreak on Wednesday caused a brief disruption at the Senate wing of Nigeria’s National Assembly after smoke was detected in Hearing Room 107 shortly after the screening of a nominee for the Governing Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).
The incident occurred moments after the Senate Committee on NDDC, chaired by Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, concluded the screening of Zainab Marwa, President Bola Tinubu’s nominee for the North-East representative position on the commission’s governing board.
The sudden appearance of smoke triggered temporary panic among senators, legislative aides, and other officials present at the venue. However, swift action by lawmakers and support staff quickly brought the situation under control, preventing the incident from escalating into a major emergency.
According to eyewitness accounts, the smoke originated from the kitchen area attached to the hearing room. Preliminary findings indicate that a microwave oven left switched on may have been responsible for the incident.
Fortunately, no injuries or casualties were recorded, and normal activities resumed shortly after the situation was contained.
The incident coincided with the Senate’s ongoing consideration of President Tinubu’s request for the confirmation of Marwa’s appointment to the NDDC board. The nomination was formally transmitted to the Senate and read during plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio.
In his communication to the Senate, President Tinubu explained that the nomination was made in accordance with the provisions of the NDDC Establishment Act. He noted that the appointment became necessary following the resignation of former board member Abdulrazak Namdas, who stepped down on March 30, 2026, to pursue his governorship ambition in Adamawa State.
Following the screening exercise, the Senate Committee on NDDC is expected to submit its report to the Senate for consideration and possible confirmation of the nominee in the coming weeks.
The quick containment of the fire incident underscored the effectiveness of emergency response measures within the National Assembly complex, ensuring that legislative activities continued without significant interruption.