Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has ordered the immediate sealing off of the site of the collapsed five-storey building along the Peter Odili Road axis of Port Harcourt, vowing that the premises will remain closed until government uncovers the root cause of the disaster.
The governor’s directive came on Thursday during an inspection visit to the scene of the building collapse, which has left at least one person dead, several others injured, and an unspecified number feared trapped beneath the rubble.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday when the structure, which was still under construction, suddenly gave way, trapping construction workers and others at the site.
Rescue and excavation operations resumed Thursday morning after activities were temporarily suspended late Wednesday night due to safety concerns and poor visibility.
Emergency responders, supported by residents, government officials and security agencies, had earlier rescued three persons alive from the debris. One body was also recovered during the initial phase of the operation.
However, as rescue efforts intensified on Thursday, emergency workers recovered the body of another victim, identified only as a middle-aged man.
Authorities said his identity had yet to be officially confirmed.
Witnesses at the scene said faint cries for help could still be heard from beneath sections of the rubble, raising hopes that additional survivors may still be trapped.
Speaking with journalists, Head of Operations of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Port Harcourt Office, Mr. Chidi Ogundu, confirmed that rescue workers were continuing painstaking efforts to reach victims trapped under the collapsed structure.
According to him, specialised equipment and emergency personnel remained on standby as excavation continued.
“We are still carrying out rescue operations and searching for anyone who may be trapped beneath the debris,” Ogundu said.
He disclosed that a remaining lift beam standing precariously at the site would be demolished to prevent further danger to nearby buildings and rescue personnel.
Security operatives, firefighters, ambulances and medical teams remained stationed at the scene throughout Thursday to provide support and respond to any emergencies.
Fubara Faults Developer’s Conduct
Addressing journalists after inspecting the site, Governor Fubara described the incident as unfortunate and avoidable, revealing that preliminary findings suggested the developer repeatedly resisted government inspection and failed to comply with established building regulations.
The governor explained that he delayed his visit until he had received a detailed briefing from relevant government agencies.
“We are here to see for ourselves this very unfortunate incident. I did not come yesterday because I wanted to receive a proper report first,” Fubara said.
According to the governor, officials of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development had made several attempts to inspect the project while construction was ongoing but were allegedly denied access by the developer.
He said the developer repeatedly maintained that the project was under the jurisdiction of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and not the Rivers State Government.
“The commissioner informed me that when the project was ongoing, officials came here several times to inspect the site and assess compliance, but the developer consistently insisted that the state government had no authority to interfere because the project was under the Federal Housing Authority,” the governor stated.
Fubara stressed that the issue had now gone beyond jurisdictional disputes, noting that a life had been lost and several families had been thrown into grief.
He extended condolences to the families affected by the tragedy and lamented that the collapse could have been prevented if standard engineering practices and regulatory requirements had been followed.
“We feel very sorry and regretful that such an incident should happen in this 21st century when engineering and construction technology have advanced significantly.
“I wonder what kind of engineer would allow such a project to continue when everything about it appeared faulty from the beginning,” he said.
The governor subsequently ordered the complete closure of the site pending the outcome of investigations.
“Nothing is going to happen on this site anymore. We are going to ensure that this place is completely sealed off until we get to the root cause of this incident,” he declared.
State Government Denies Approving Project
Meanwhile, the Rivers State Government has distanced itself from the approval process for the collapsed structure.
