The Senate President’s office has moved to address concerns surrounding a recent visit by Mrs Ekaette Unoma Akpabio to the National Assembly Chamber, describing the visit as part of an assessment of facilities rather than any unauthorised activity.

The clarification followed public reactions after reports emerged about the Saturday visit, which raised questions over the reason for Mrs Akpabio’s presence at the chamber and the identity of individuals who accompanied her during the inspection.

In a statement issued on Saturday, Dr Jibril Lawal Tafida, Special Adviser to the Senate President on Diaspora and Non-governmental Organisations, said the visit was carried out to examine equipment and infrastructure issues affecting the chamber.

Tafida explained that the inspection was initiated following complaints from senators and staff about the condition of some facilities and concerns over the quality of completed contractual works within the complex.

He said the team that accompanied Mrs Akpabio consisted of technical personnel, including electrical engineers, ICT and audio-visual specialists, as well as building maintenance experts assigned to evaluate the reported challenges.

The Senate President’s aide also stated that the exercise was conducted with the awareness of relevant officials and did not involve any breach of security procedures. He added that choosing a Saturday for the visit allowed the assessment to take place without interfering with legislative activities.

The office urged the public to disregard claims it described as inaccurate, while reaffirming confidence in the security and administrative systems of the National Assembly. It said the inspection was focused on improving facilities and ensuring a better working environment for lawmakers and staff.