Rivers gov shuts down collapsed building site, orders probe

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has ordered the complete sealing of a construction site where a five-storey building collapsed, resulting in one fatality and multiple injuries. The incident occurred on Wednesday along Odili Road in Port Harcourt.

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We’re here to see for ourselves the very unfortunate incident that took place here.

Governor Fubara visited the site on Thursday to assess the situation. He declared that the site would remain sealed until the government determines the root cause of the collapse. A statement from his Chief Press Secretary indicated that preliminary findings suggest the developer had previously refused to allow state authorities to inspect the site and comply with necessary building regulations.

During his inspection, accompanied by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Special Duties, Governor Fubara noted that he had delayed his visit pending a formal briefing. He highlighted that the commissioner had informed him of the developer's claims that the site fell under federal jurisdiction, not state authority, and that the developer had repeatedly resisted state inspection attempts.

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I didn’t come yesterday because I wanted to get the report first, and the commissioner did brief me that the incident site, first, is not as claimed by the developer; that it’s not under the jurisdiction of the state; that it’s under the jurisdiction of the Federal Housing Authority.

Governor Fubara emphasized that the issue transcended jurisdictional disputes, focusing instead on the life lost and the suffering inflicted upon the deceased's family. He extended condolences to the victims' families, asserting that the tragedy could have been averted had the developer adhered to proper engineering design and construction standards.

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He also informed me that when the project was ongoing, they came here several times to inspect what was happening and also to see the level of compliance, but unfortunately, the developer kept claiming that we don’t have any right to interfere.

Expressing regret, the governor questioned the competence of the engineers involved, given the alleged fundamental flaws from the project's inception. He reiterated his commitment to ensuring the site remains sealed until a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse is completed.

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We feel sorry and very regretful that such an incident should be happening in the 21st century. In the 21st century, because technology has advanced, engineering has developed.