By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed has responded to the reports that the Ministry’s Headquarters’ building this morning was razed by fire.
Ahmed, who spoke through her Special Adviser, Media & Communications, Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi said, “The Federal Ministry of Finance Headquarters is not on fire as reported on the social media. Rather there was an incident on the corridor in the basement involving an isolated battery Pack and it was quickly put out by the security personnel on duty”.
Also, the spokesperson of the Ministry, Mr. Olajide Oshundun said at about 6:50 am some staff of the Ministry noticed smoke emanating from the room that housed the battery for the inverter.
“Necessary alarm was raised and the internally provided fire fighting equipment were deployed and within about 15-20 minutes the fire was put under control.
The Controller General of the Federal Fire Service, (FFS), Dr Karebo Pere Samson urged residents of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), not to panic, assuring that “the fire has been brought under control”.
He maintained that “there was no cause for alarm.”