Nigeria: Fire Guts INEC Headquarters in Abuja

n early morning fire yesterday gutted a section of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) headquarters in Abuja. The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) at the scene disclosed that there were no casualties. The cause of the fire incident is being investigated and would be made known in due course, a statement by commission's director, Public Affairs, Emmanuel Umenger, stated. The fire incident which started at about 10:30am affected the office of INEC's Director of Voter Registry, Engineer Emmanuel Akem.

LEADERSHIP reports that a combined team of fire fighters from the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, Nigeria Air Force Service and NEMA quickly put out the fire before it could spread to other parts. "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." Umenger stated. continued