The Rivers State Head of Service (HoS), Dr Inyinge Brown, has confirmed that the fire incident that gutted a section of the state secretariat on Monday did not result into any casualty.
The HoS also confirmed that preliminary findings indicate that the fire outbreak was caused by electrical spark.
A section of the 9-storey Podium, Block of the state secretariat was engulfed by fire on Monday evening after civil servants had closed work for the day.
Speaking to journalists after the fire was contained, the HoS state that the state fire department, the Federal Fire Service and other “state partners” responded quickly and contained the fire.
According to her, “We were informed that there was a fire incident at the right wing, ground floor of Podium Block, and we immediately made calls to the River State Fire Service, and they responded promptly
“We also called other partners of the state, such as the Renaissance, Federal Fire Service and the military, who promptly sent their fire trucks. It’s a combined effort, and as we speak, you can see that the fire has been contained.
“We thank God, and we thank His Excellency Sir 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.”
Speaking on the need for workers to be more safety conscious, especially with electricity, the Dr. Brown while assuring that the government will ensure the speedy repairs of the damaged section also cautioned workers saying, “We urge all civil servants to take responsibility for their safety. Turn off our sockets and our lights. Not just putting off the sockets, but unplugging to ensure there is no residual charge because these buildings are heritage buildings and we don’t want anything to happen to them.”
The Podium Block was among the structures in the state secretariat approved for renovation by both Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the immediate past Sole Administrator of the state, Adm Ibok Ette-Ibas (rtd.)
