A section of the Maitama, Abuja headquarters of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was on Monday gutted by fire, resulting in commotion as staff of the commission scampered for safety.
However, the incident yielded no casualties, after men of the Federal Fire Service and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) weighed in with quick response.
Speaking on the 30-minute-long fire, Director of Information Communication Technology (ICT) of INEC, Engineer Chidi Nwafor expressed relief that no vital document was lost.
He disclosed that it happened in the voter registry department, and was discovered after staff began perceiving a foul burning odour and had no choice but to search the premises.
“Those of us around at that time had to fight the fire with extinguishers. At the same time, we called the Fire Service and NEMA. As I am talking to you now the fire has been quenched and only one office was affected.”
He added that only one office equipment was damaged and that the cause of the incident would be ascertained after the conclusion of investigations.
Director of INEC’s Public Affairs, Mr. Umenger I. E. in a statement described the incident as a “minor fire incident,” confirming that it affected the office of its Director of Voter Registry, Engineer Emmanuel T. Akem.
“The fire incident which started at about 10.30 a.m was quickly put out by a combined team of fire fighters from the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA),” Umenger’s stated read.
“Apart from office equipment and the personal effects of the Voter Registry Director which were lost to the fire incident, the operational capacity of the Commission has not in any way been affected. The cause of the incident which is being investigated would be made known in due course.”
A similar fire incident in the second half of Year 2011 occurred in the office of the commission’s chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, destroying the visitors’ room and computer sections.
