By Deborah Nnamdi
A fire outbreak on Monday evening gutted parts of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt, causing panic among civil servants and members of the public.
The incident, which affected the ground floor of the Podium Block housing the State Pension Board, reportedly destroyed several offices and important documents before it was brought under control.
Head of the Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. (Mrs.) Inyingi Brown, who addressed newsmen at the scene, confirmed that there were no casualties. She said firefighters from the Rivers State Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service, Renaissance, and the military responded promptly and worked together to contain the blaze.
“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 other partners. It’s a combined effort, and as we speak, the fire has been contained,” Brown stated.
She thanked Governor Siminalayi Fubara for revitalizing the state’s fire service, noting that the investment helped prevent a more devastating outcome. She added that medical personnel were on standby to manage any emergency that might arise.
Preliminary reports suggest that the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault. Brown advised civil servants to take safety precautions by unplugging electrical appliances when not in use, emphasizing that the secretariat buildings are heritage structures that must be preserved.
The fire occurred shortly after Governor Fubara dissolved the State Pension Board previously constituted by the immediate past Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ikot Ete Ibas (rtd). The incident also coincides with allegations of financial mismanagement within the board and reports of an impending investigation into its activities.
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Dr. Honour Siriwo, also confirmed the incident, noting that the extent of the damage was still being assessed as of press time.
Governor Fubara is expected to announce measures for the refurbishment of the affected buildings in the coming days.
