A fire outbreak in the Senate wing of the National Assembly complex on Wednesday briefly disrupted activities and sparked concern among lawmakers, staff, and visitors before it was successfully contained.

The incident occurred in Hearing Room 107 shortly after the Senate Committee on the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) concluded the screening of Zainab Marwa, who has been nominated as the North-East representative on the commission's governing board.

President Bola Tinubu had, on June 4, transmitted Marwa's nomination to the Senate for confirmation.

According to eyewitness accounts, smoke began emanating from the kitchen area adjoining the hearing room, prompting an immediate response and the evacuation of some senators, legislative staff, and guests from the vicinity.

Sources within the National Assembly attributed the fire to a microwave oven allegedly left switched on in the kitchen. Video footage circulating on social media showed officials attempting to extinguish the blaze, with some witnesses suggesting that an electrical spark from the appliance may have triggered the incident.

Efforts to contain the fire were reportedly challenged in the early stages by inadequate water supply. Individuals at the scene were heard expressing concern over the limited availability of water as emergency response efforts intensified.

Questions were also raised about the apparent lack of functional fire extinguishers in the immediate area, forcing staff and security personnel to rely on alternative measures to prevent the fire from spreading.

The Chairman of the Senate Committee on NDDC, Senator Asuquo Ekpenyong, alongside Senator Salihu Mustapha of Kwara Central, reportedly coordinated efforts to contain the blaze. Their intervention, supported by parliamentary staff and security officials, helped bring the situation under control before the fire could extend to adjoining sections of the building.

The kitchen compartment, which houses appliances and furniture used during committee activities, sustained visible damage. However, no casualties or injuries were reported.

As of the time of filing this report, the Senate had not issued an official statement confirming the cause of the fire or providing an assessment of the extent of the damage.

Attempts to obtain comments from Yemi Adaramodu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, were unsuccessful.

This version adopts a standard newsroom style, removes repetition, improves flow, and maintains attribution where facts have not been officially confirmed.