A section of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt was on Monday evening gutted by fire, destroying several offices and valuable property.
Eyewitnesses said the fire started around 7:00 p.m. and quickly spread through parts of the building before emergency responders arrived at the scene. Thick smoke was seen billowing from the affected block as workers and security personnel made frantic efforts to salvage documents and office equipment.
Officials from the Rivers State Fire Service reportedly arrived later and battled to contain the inferno, preventing it from spreading to other wings of the complex, which houses key government ministries and departments.
Although the exact cause of the fire remains unknown at the time of filing this report, preliminary reports suggest it may have been triggered by an electrical fault. No casualties have been reported so far.
A senior government official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, confirmed the incident, saying an assessment of the damage would be carried out once the fire is fully extinguished.
“The situation is under control now. Firefighters are still working to put out the remaining flames. We will conduct a proper investigation to determine the cause,” the official stated.
The Rivers State Secretariat, located along Azikiwe Road in Port Harcourt, serves as the administrative hub for the state government, housing ministries such as Finance, Works, Education, and Agriculture.
As of press time, authorities had cordoned off the affected area to ensure safety and allow emergency teams access for recovery and investigation.
The Rivers State Government is yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
More details are expected to emerge as emergency officials complete their assessment of the damage.
