Rivers Secretariat fire damages offices in Port Harcourt as officials cite electrical fault. No casualties were reported, and the blaze was swiftly contained

Rivers Secretariat fire broke out on Monday evening, destroying several offices and property at the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt.

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The fire, which reportedly began after office hours on the ground floor of the Podium Block, affected part of the nine-storey structure, sending thick smoke into the night sky before firefighters brought it under control.

The incident occurred barely a week after Governor Siminalayi Fubara dissolved the Rivers State Pensions Board, whose office, located nearby, escaped the blaze.

The state government had earlier approved the rehabilitation of the secretariat, a move that observers now describe as timely.

Confirming the development, the State Head of Service, Dr (Mrs) Inyinge Brown, said the Rivers Secretariat fire was caused by an electrical fault but assured that no life was lost.

“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, who responded promptly,” Brown said.

She added that firefighters from the Federal Fire Service, Renaissance, and the military joined efforts to contain the fire, describing it as a combined and swift response.

“We thank God, and 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 noted.

The Head of Service also cautioned civil servants to switch off all electrical appliances and unplug sockets before leaving their offices to prevent future incidents.

“These buildings are heritage buildings, and we don’t want anything to happen to them,” she said.

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Dr Brown assured that the government would commence refurbishment of the affected areas soon, emphasising that public infrastructure safety remains a top priority.