No fire outbreak in the Villa, says Presidency

By Joy Okosieme

The Presidency on Sunday dismissed reports of a fire outbreak in the Presidential Villa.

Reports of a fire outbreaks within the precints of the Villa had gone viral on Sunday after an online news medium carried the story on its website.

Hours after the news broke, Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu debunked the reports in a tweet stating that there was no fire outbreak inside the Presidential Villa but a fire outbreak “between the outer wire fence and walls surrounding the Villa.”

The Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity noted in the statement:

“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.

“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 passer-by 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.”