Rivers govt speaks on fire outbreak at state secretariat

The Rivers State Government has confirmed a fire incident at the state secretariat complex in Port Harcourt, the state capital.

The Rivers State Head of Service, Dr Inyingi Brown, disclosed this to newsmen at the scene of the fire incident in Port Harcourt on Monday, October 6, 2025.

It was gathered that the fire outbreak destroyed a section of the Rivers State Government Secretariat, causing panic among workers and visitors.

The affected area included offices belonging to the Rivers State Pension Board, where several important documents and office equipment were kept.

Brown, however, stated that the state fire service and other relevant agencies responded promptly to contain the inferno.

Brown commended the timely response of the state fire service, Renaissance, federal fire service, and the military, who all sent their fire trucks to the scene.

She said: “We thank God Almighty, and also commend Governor Siminalayi Fubara, for being proactive in rehabilitating the fire service before this time.

“If not for his investment in the fire service, this situation would have been worse.”

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The HoS disclosed that no life was lost, stating that the state medical service was on ground to curtail any emergency.

Brown explained that preliminary reports revealed that the fire might have been a result of electrical faults.

She, therefore, urged civil servants to always switch off all electrical appliances at the close of work.

The HoS added: “We urge all civil servants to take responsibility for safety; turn off our sockets and our lights.

“Not just putting off the sockets, but unplugging them to ensure there is no residual charge because these buildings are heritage buildings and we don’t want anything to happen to them.”

The Star