By Bolaji Ogundele, Abuja

The Presidency has allayed fears about a fire an online media said occurred at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa in Abuja on Saturday night.

In an official response by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, the Presidency said there was no fire within the perimeter walls of the State House as speculated by the online media report.

“People in the country and even abroad have been expressing concerns over reports of a fire 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 passerby dropping a burning cigarette. The Federal Fire Service will ascertain the reason for it when it completes its 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,” Garba said.