Minister, others scamper for safety as fire engulfs secretariat

The fifth floor of the federal secretariat housing the Ministry of Education in Abuja was on Thursday engulfed by fire.

 Although no casualty was recorded in the incident, but some files, furniture and other office equipment were destroyed.

It took the combined efforts of the Federal Fire Service and the FCT Fire Service to put out the fire which reportedly started around 1.45pm and spread to the sixth floor.

The Minister of Education, Ibrahim Shekarau was said to be holding a meeting with Principals of Unity Schools when the fire broke out.

The meeting ended abruptly as the minister, his officials the principals and other participants scampered for safety.

The FFS Public Relations Officer, Mr. Collins Elechi, said the cause of the fire was not immediately known, but that one challenge his men faced was the lack of hydrant in the building.

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