The Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. Inyingi Brown, has confirmed that no life was lost in the fire incident that occurred on Monday at the state secretariat complex in Port Harcourt.
Speaking to journalists at the scene, Brown said the state fire service and other relevant agencies responded swiftly to contain the fire and prevent it from spreading to other buildings within the complex.
She commended the timely intervention of the Rivers State Fire Service, the Renaissance Fire Service, the Federal Fire Service, and the military, all of whom deployed fire trucks to the scene.
“We thank God Almighty and commend Governor Siminalayi Fubara for being proactive in rehabilitating the fire service before now. If not for his investment in the service, the situation could have been much worse,” she said.
Brown confirmed that there were no casualties, adding that the State Medical Services team was on standby to handle any emergency.
She explained that preliminary reports suggested the fire was caused by an electrical fault and urged civil servants to ensure all electrical appliances were switched off and unplugged at the close of work.
“We must all take responsibility for safety. Always turn off and unplug sockets and electrical appliances. These secretariat buildings are heritage structures, and we must protect them,” she advised.
Brown also disclosed that Governor Fubara had initiated plans to refurbish the secretariat buildings, with details to be announced soon.
