Cynthia Ezegwu
section of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt was on Monday evening gutted by fire, destroying some offices and property.
The fire, which reportedly started after office hours on the ground floor of the Podium Block, affected part of the nine-storey building. The incident occurred about a week after Governor Siminalayi Fubara dissolved the State Pensions Board, whose office, located nearby, was not affected.
Confirming the incident, the State Head of Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyinge Brown, said the fire resulted from an electrical fault. She, however, noted that there were no casualties.
“We were informed that there was a fire incident at the right wing, ground floor of Podium Block, and we immediately made calls to the Rivers State Fire Service, and they responded promptly,” Brown said. “We also called other partners such as the Renaissance, Federal Fire Service, and the military, who promptly sent their fire trucks. It’s a combined effort, and as we speak, the fire has been contained.”
She commended Governor Fubara for revitalising the state fire service, saying his proactive investment helped prevent greater damage.
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“We thank His Excellency, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, for being proactive in rehabilitating the Fire Service before this time. If not for his investment, this situation would have been worse,” she added.
Dr. Brown urged civil servants to always switch off and unplug electrical appliances before leaving their offices to prevent similar incidents.
She assured that the state government would begin refurbishing the affected sections of the secretariat soon.