Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has ordered the indefinite closure of the site of a five-storey building that collapsed in Port Harcourt, killing one person and leaving several others injured.
Fubara gave the directive on Thursday during an inspection visit to the site of the tragedy, assuring residents that the premises would remain sealed until a comprehensive investigation determines the cause of the collapse.
The governor described the incident as unfortunate and avoidable, revealing that preliminary findings showed the developer repeatedly resisted inspections by relevant state authorities and failed to comply with approved building regulations.
Accompanied by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Amairigha Edward Hart, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Special Duties, Dabite Sokari George, Fubara explained that he delayed his visit to first receive official reports from the agencies involved.
“We are here to see for ourselves this very unfortunate incident. I did not come yesterday because I wanted to first receive a report,” the governor said.
According to him, officials from the state government had visited the construction site on several occasions to monitor compliance and inspect ongoing work but were allegedly denied cooperation by the developer.
“The commissioner informed me that the site, contrary to the developer’s claim, falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Housing Authority. He also informed me that officials visited the site several times during construction to monitor compliance and inspect ongoing work. Unfortunately, the developer consistently maintained that the state government had no authority to interfere,” Fubara stated.
In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor stressed that the primary concern was the loss of life and the suffering caused to affected families rather than issues of jurisdiction.
He extended condolences to the families of the victims and maintained that adherence to approved engineering standards and construction guidelines could have prevented the disaster.
“We feel very sorry and deeply regret that such an incident should occur in the 21st century, when technology and engineering practices have advanced significantly. I wonder what kind of engineer would allow a project with such fundamental flaws to continue from inception,” he said.
Fubara insisted that no construction activity would resume on the site until authorities complete their investigation and establish accountability.
“Nothing is going to happen on this site anymore. We will ensure that it remains completely sealed until we determine the root cause of this incident,” the governor added.
The collapse has renewed concerns over compliance with building regulations and construction standards in Rivers State, with residents calling for stricter monitoring of ongoing developments to prevent similar tragedies.
