By Fire has damaged a section of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt, destroying offices and property in the late hours of Monday evening.
The blaze, which reportedly started on the ground floor of the Podium Block after staff had left, affected a part of the nine-storey structure. The inferno was contained through a coordinated effort by multiple agencies, averting a more significant disaster.
Confirming the incident, the State Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyinge Brown, attributed the cause to an electrical fault. She stressed that there were no casualties.
According to Brown, fire services from the Rivers State Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service, Renaissance, and the military responded rapidly to control the blaze.
“It’s a combined effort, and as we speak, you can see that the fire has been contained,” Dr. Brown stated. She specifically thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for his recent investment in the State Fire Service, suggesting that without it, “this situation would have been worse.”
Dr. Brown provided assurance that the government is committed to quickly restoring the affected complex. She confirmed that the refurbishment of the damaged sections will begin soon.
She also issued a strong caution to all civil servants, urging them to adopt better safety practices.
“We urge all civil servants to take responsibility for their safety. Turn off our sockets and our lights. Not just putting off the sockets, but unplugging to ensure there is no residual charge because these buildings are heritage buildings and we don’t want anything to happen to them”, she advised.
