By Mercy Joseph, Abuja
A fire broke out at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation building in Abuja on Monday morning, causing severe traffic congestion around the Federal Secretariat and forcing many commuters to walk to their destinations.
The incident, which occurred around 8:00 a.m., drew emergency responders to the scene as thick plumes of dark smoke billowed from an upper floor of the multi-storey building.
Eyewitness footage circulating on social media showed dense black smoke rising from one wing of the structure, reportedly located at Section C of the building within the Federal Secretariat complex.
As firefighters worked to contain the blaze, security officials diverted vehicles away from the affected area, causing significant gridlock around the Head of Service office and nearby roads within the Secretariat.
Several motorists were unable to use their usual routes, while passengers had to disembark and continue their journeys on foot due to the road closures and heavy traffic.
An officer of the Federal Road Safety Corps told press tthe congestion “is a result of the fire incident at the Office of the Head of the Civil Service. We are managing the situation.”
Staff members and visitors were also seen evacuating the building as emergency personnel worked to bring the fire under control.
When contacted, the Media Department of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation confirmed the incident, noting that the fire was confined to Section C of the building.
