The secretariat of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Sokoto State was razed by a fire outbreak in the early hours of Saturday, May 2, 2026, leading to the destruction of office equipment and critical documents accumulated over several decades.
The incident reportedly began around 3 a.m., and by the time it was noticed, the flames had already spread across the building, making containment difficult.
Secretary of the council, Hamisu Hussaini, who spoke to journalists at the scene, said preliminary findings suggest the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault.
He noted that the intensity of the blaze left little or nothing to be salvaged.
Items destroyed in the inferno include computers, printers, refrigerators, televisions, and office furniture.
Hussaini added that vital records spanning more than 30 years were completely burnt, dealing a heavy blow to the council’s operations.
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A security guard on duty reportedly made efforts to control the fire but was overwhelmed due to its rapid spread. Emergency responders arrived about an hour after the incident was reported and eventually extinguished the flames.
Despite their intervention, the building had already suffered extensive damage, leaving the labour union grappling with significant losses and uncertainty over recovery.
Officials say discussions are ongoing on rebuilding the secretariat and restoring essential records in the aftermath of the incident.
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