The Governor of Rivers State, Siminalayi Fubara, has ordered the immediate shutdown of a five-storey building site that collapsed along Odili Road in Port Harcourt, resulting in the death of one person and leaving several others injured.
During a visit to the scene on Thursday, Governor Fubara directed that the site be completely sealed off pending the outcome of a thorough investigation to determine the root cause of the incident.
He described the collapse as unfortunate and avoidable.
According to a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, preliminary findings revealed that the developer had consistently resisted inspection efforts by state authorities and failed to comply with established building regulations.
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The governor disclosed that officials from the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development had made multiple attempts to assess the project during construction, but were denied access by the developer, who claimed the site fell under the jurisdiction of the Federal Housing Authority.
“This is no longer about jurisdiction or interference,” Fubara stated. “A life has been lost, and families are grieving. This tragedy could have been prevented if proper engineering standards and regulations had been followed.”
He expressed concern over the apparent disregard for modern construction practices, questioning the professionalism behind the project.
The governor emphasized that no further activity would take place at the site until a comprehensive investigation is completed.
Meanwhile, rescue operations at the scene have slowed, with no additional victims recovered as of Thursday evening.
The area has since attracted residents and scavengers, some of whom were seen removing construction materials from the debris.
Governor Fubara extended his condolences to the family of the deceased and assured the public that the government would take necessary actions to prevent future occurrences.
Authorities are expected to release further updates as investigations progress.
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