Presidency speaks on fire incident around Aso Rock

The presidency said it had directed the Federal Fire Service to ascertain the cause of the fire that broke out at a point around the perimeter fence of the Aso Rock Presidential Villa.

A presidential spokesperson, Garba Shehu, said in a statement on Sunday that the fire incident was recorded outside the Villa perimeter.

He said the location was precisely in the area between the Villa and the Barracks, towards Asokoro.

The statement reads: “People in the country and even abroad have been expressing concerns over reports of a fire incident in Aso Rock Villa, the seat of the Nigerian government.

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“I would like to clarify that there was no fire inside the Presidential Villa.

“In the evening of Saturday, March 6, a fire broke out burning shrubs between the outer wire fence and walls surrounding the Villa, precisely in the area between the Villa and the Barracks, towards Asokoro.

“The fire, as being speculated, might have started from a passerby dropping a burning cigarette. The Federal Fire Service will ascertain the reason for it when they complete their investigation.

“It suffices to say that this bush fire, which started and ended outside the perimeter walls of the Villa, was seamlessly contained by fire stations of the State House and the one nearby from the Federal Fire Service. No loss of life, no loss whatsoever to building and property was recorded.

“We thank well-meaning Nigerians for expressed concerns.”