Fire Razes Section of FireRivers Secretariat, Destroys Pension Board Office

By Hamzat Ameenat, Lagos, Nigeria

A fire outbreak on Monday evening gutted a section of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt, destroying several offices and property but leaving no casualties.

The inferno, which reportedly began around 4 p.m. after the close of work, started from the ground floor of the building known as the Podium Block and spread to the office of the newly constituted Rivers State Pension Board.

Eyewitnesses attributed the cause of the fire to an electrical fault. Quick intervention by firefighters from both the Rivers State Fire Service and the Federal Fire Service, however, helped to contain the blaze before it spread to other parts of the complex.

Confirming the incident, the Permanent Secretary of the State Ministry of Information, Dr Honour Sirawoo, commended the swift response of firemen, noting that their professionalism prevented

what could have been a major disaster.

He said: “It was at the Podium Block of the State Secretariat, on the right side where the fire started from. But we are fortunate to have the State and Federal Fire Service intervene and do what they know best to arrest the situation.”

The Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. Inyinge Brown, who also visited the scene, confirmed that no life was lost. She praised the prompt response of the rehabilitated State Fire Service and acknowledged the collaboration of partner agencies.

“We immediately made calls to the Rivers State Fire Service and they responded promptly. We also called other partners such as the Renaissance, Federal Fire Service, and the military, who sent their fire trucks. It’s a combined effort, and as we speak, the fire has been contained,” she

said.

Dr. Brown expressed gratitude to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for prioritising the rehabilitation of the state’s fire service, saying the investment played a crucial role

in averting a more severe incident.

She noted: “If not for his investment in the Fire Service, this situation would have been worse.”

She further urged civil servants to adopt strict safety habits by switching off electrical appliances and unplugging sockets before leaving their offices.

“We urge all civil servants to take responsibility for safety. Put off sockets and lights, and ensure there is no residual charge because these buildings are heritage structures, and we don’t want anything to happen to them,” she advised.

While the extent of the damage is yet to be officially assessed, officials confirmed that the situation is now under control, and normal activities are expected to resume at the secretariat once investigations into the cause of the fire are concluded.