The Nasarawa State ministry of information and ethical re-orientation on Friday was thrown into pandemonium over a fire outbreak that gutted part of its offices located along Shendam road in Lafia.
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that properties worth millions of naira were destroyed in the inferno.
No life was reportedly lost in the fire but archival materials including calendars, historical documents, diaries and electrical appliances were burnt.
The ministry’s staff including the commissioner, Hamza Elayo, were seen making efforts to put out the fire before the arrival of fire fighters.
Speaking to journalists, Elayo said that the fire was caused by power fluctuations noted from the ministry’s store that was recently re organized.
He said that the fire started around 10.30 a.m but was extinguished through efforts of the ministry’s staff before the arrival of fire fighters from the state fire service.
Elayo said that experts would be invited from the state ministry of works to ascertain the level of damage in the building to avoid cracks that might lead to its collapse.