Fire Guts Section of Rivers State Secretariat: Government Promises Full Restoration
A section of the Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt was on Monday, October 6, 2025, engulfed in flames, destroying valuable government property and sparking panic among workers and residents.
The fire, which broke out at about 5:20 p.m., tore through part of the Podium Block, one of the main administrative wings of the Secretariat, before it was eventually contained by a combined team of emergency responders.
Authorities confirmed that no lives were lost, but office equipment, documents, and furniture worth millions of naira were completely destroyed.
Swift Response Contained the Inferno
Eyewitnesses said the fire started suddenly from an air-conditioning unit on the ground floor of the Podium Block, rapidly spreading to adjoining offices before the Rivers State Fire Service intervened.
“The fire started from the air conditioner area — probably an electrical fault. Within minutes, thick smoke filled the wing. If not for the fast response of the fire service, the whole building might have gone up in flames,” said Mr. Jumbo, one of the eyewitnesses.
At the height of the incident, five fire trucks were deployed, with teams from the Rivers State Fire Service, Federal Fire Service, and private sector emergency partners such as Renaissance Security working in unison to subdue the flames.
By 6:30 p.m., the fire had been brought under control, preventing it from spreading to other adjoining blocks of the vast Secretariat complex.
Head of Service: No Lives Lost, Damage Being Assessed
Speaking to journalists at the scene, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. Inyingi Brown, expressed relief that no casualties were recorded despite the scale of the fire.
“We thank God that no lives were lost. The State Fire Service and our emergency partners acted promptly to contain the fire. As you can see, the situation is now fully under control,” she said.
Dr. Brown disclosed that initial investigations suggest an electrical fault may have triggered the fire, and that all staff had safely evacuated the affected section of the building.
She commended the proactive investment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration in upgrading the state’s fire service infrastructure, saying it made the difference between swift containment and potential catastrophe.
“If not for the Governor’s earlier efforts to rehabilitate the fire service, this could have been a major disaster. The quick response we witnessed today is proof that public safety systems are working,” she added.
Civil Service Urged to Uphold Safety Discipline
Dr. Brown used the opportunity to issue a safety advisory to all civil servants, urging them to take personal responsibility for preventing electrical and fire hazards within offices.
“We must be careful and vigilant. At the close of work, ensure all electrical appliances are switched off and unplugged. Many of these buildings are old, and we must preserve them as part of our state heritage,” she advised.
She further revealed that Governor Fubara had already directed a comprehensive inspection and audit of all Secretariat buildings to identify potential fire risks and electrical safety gaps.
Fire Incident Follows Recent Tensions in Civil Service
The fire outbreak occurred just days after Governor Fubara publicly reprimanded some Permanent Secretaries for alleged acts of insubordination and poor administrative performance during a period of state reforms.
Though officials stressed that the two incidents were purely coincidental, the timing of the fire has drawn attention, with observers calling for a thorough, transparent investigation to rule out negligence or sabotage.
“This fire comes at a sensitive time in the state’s civil service management. The public must be reassured that everything possible will be done to uncover the true cause,” said a policy analyst based in Port Harcourt.
Eyewitness Accounts and On-Site Observations
Reporters who visited the site observed that the ground floor of the Podium Block suffered extensive damage, with charred furniture, melted equipment, and water-logged offices.
Emergency workers were still dousing smouldering areas late into the evening, while security operatives cordoned off the affected section to prevent looting or further accidents.
“We have been here since evening, ensuring that all hot spots are fully cooled. Everything is under control,” a firefighter told BRANDECONOMY on-site.
Civil servants who arrived on Tuesday morning described the sight as “heartbreaking” but expressed gratitude that the building did not collapse and that government records were largely safeguarded.
Government Vows to Rebuild and Modernise
In a statement, the Rivers State Government reaffirmed its commitment to restore and modernise the affected building, pledging that work would commence once damage assessments were completed.
Dr. Brown confirmed that plans are already underway to refurbish all Secretariat structures, upgrade safety installations, and improve emergency readiness across state facilities.
“His Excellency, Governor Fubara, is determined to not just repair the Podium Block but to modernise the entire Secretariat. The aim is to make our workplaces safe, efficient, and resilient,” she said.
BRANDECONOMY ANALYSIS: Lessons in Crisis Preparedness
The Rivers Secretariat fire underscores a critical truth about Nigeria’s public infrastructure — aging buildings, outdated wiring, and inadequate maintenance continue to pose serious risks across states.
While the swift response of the Rivers Fire Service deserves commendation, experts say the incident must serve as a wake-up call for stronger preventive maintenance, periodic safety audits, and better energy management.
According to urban development experts, many government facilities built in the 1970s and 1980s require full retrofitting to meet modern electrical and fire-safety standards.
The Port Harcourt Secretariat, one of the busiest in the Niger Delta, symbolises both Nigeria’s infrastructural legacy and its urgent need for renewal.
“This fire could have been worse. It’s time state governments across Nigeria prioritised facility safety as much as they do capital projects,” one expert said.
BRANDECONOMY TAKEAWAY
The Rivers State fire incident, though contained, reveals deeper governance imperatives: the need for infrastructure resilience, safety culture, and proactive facility management in public institutions.
Governor Fubara’s administration has a clear opportunity to turn this crisis into a reform milestone — one that redefines how state assets are maintained and protected.
As Dr. Brown aptly put it:
“Our Secretariat is not just a workplace. It is a symbol of service, and we must protect it.”
