Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has described as unfortunate the fire outbreak that partially destroyed a section of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt on Monday evening.
The affected area, which serves as a creche for children of civil servants, was gutted by flames before it was eventually brought under control by the state’s fire service.
Governor Fubara visited the scene on Tuesday morning to assess the extent of the damage. He was received by a large crowd of civil servants, the Head of Service, and several Permanent Secretaries, including the newly sworn-in Austin Ezekiel-Hart.
Speaking to journalists after the inspection, the governor expressed relief that no lives were lost and that the fire was contained to a single section of the complex.
“I came here this morning to see for myself what happened yesterday. It’s really unfortunate, but we give God the glory that no life was lost and the damage was limited to one section,” Fubara said.
The governor noted that the incident would fast-track the long-planned renovation of the State Secretariat — a key administrative hub that houses several ministries and government departments.
“We’ve been discussing the renovation of our foremost secretariat, but with this incident, there should be no further delay. Whatever is required to commence the process will begin immediately,” he assured.
Governor Fubara commended the Rivers State Fire Service for its swift and effective response, crediting the administration’s recent investments in the service’s infrastructure for preventing a larger disaster.
“Before the emergency, we had already invested in our fire service — in manpower, equipment, and stations. I wonder what would have happened if we didn’t have a functional system in place,” he remarked.
He also praised civil servants for their dedication and resilience, pledging continued government efforts to enhance their welfare and improve working conditions.
“We’ll keep doing everything necessary to uplift the lives of Rivers people and make them happy,” Fubara added.
The governor’s visit underscores his administration’s proactive approach to public safety and its renewed commitment to modernizing state infrastructure for better service delivery.
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