By Our Correspondent
National News – Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has ordered the immediate closure of the site of a five-storey building that collapsed along Odili Road in Port Harcourt, killing one person and injuring several others.
The governor, who visited the scene on Thursday, directed that the construction site remain sealed pending the outcome of a comprehensive investigation into the cause of the collapse.
Speaking during the inspection, Fubara described the incident as tragic and avoidable, stressing that the government would ensure those responsible are held accountable.
According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, preliminary findings indicate that the developer repeatedly resisted inspections by officials of the Rivers State Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development and failed to comply with established building regulations.
The governor explained that he delayed his visit until he received an official briefing from the relevant government agencies.
He disclosed that the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development informed him that the developer had insisted the project fell under the jurisdiction of the Federal Housing Authority, preventing state officials from carrying out routine inspections despite several attempts.
“This unfortunate incident has claimed a life and brought untold pain to the victim’s family. It could have been prevented if the developer had complied with approved engineering standards and building regulations,” Fubara said.
He lamented that such a structural failure should occur despite advances in engineering and construction technology, questioning the professional standards applied to the project from its inception.
The governor directed that no further construction activity should take place at the site until investigators determine the immediate and underlying causes of the collapse.
“I don’t see any reason why work should continue here. The site will remain completely sealed until we get to the root cause of this incident,” he stated.
Fubara also extended his condolences to the family of the deceased and wished those injured a speedy recovery.
Meanwhile, rescue operations at the scene were temporarily halted on Thursday evening after all five excavators deployed for the exercise were shut down around 4:30 p.m.
Emergency responders had yet to recover additional victims as of the time of filing this report, while large volumes of debris remained uncleared.
Residents, youths and scavengers were also seen at the site removing steel reinforcement rods from the collapsed structure, raising concerns about the security of the disaster scene as investigations continue.
