An explosion rocked several buildings across from the offices of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) building in Abuja at about 3:00 p.m., December 5, 2013, Thursday.

According to eyewitnesses, a petrol tanker discharging gasoline exploded at the Conoil gas station opposite the NNPC building in Abuja.

The huge fireball could be seen in areas around Abuja. There is no immediate report of casualty caused by the explosion.

The fire raged for several hours, especially as the NNPC initially refused to use their firefighters to assist in ending the fire. As at time of filing this report the fire is still raging although NNPC has ordered the release of two tankers which made no impact on the fire.