Panic gripped the Rivers State Secretariat on Monday after a fire broke out, sending civil servants and members of the public scrambling.
The blaze was concentrated on the ground floor of the Podium Block.
Addressing reporters at the scene, the Head of Rivers State Civil Service, Dr. Mrs. Inyingi Brown, was quick to reassure the public that there were no casualties.
She credited the rapid response of the State Fire Service and other agencies, noting they were immediately summoned to effectively contain the inferno.
“We were informed that there was a fire incident at the right wing, ground floor of Podium Block.
“We immediately made calls to the Rivers State Fire Service, and they responded promptly.
“We also called other partners of the state, such as the Renaissance, Federal Fire Service and the military, who promptly sent their fire trucks. It’s a combined effort, and as we speak, you can see that the fire has been contained.
“We thank God, and we thank His Excellency Sir Siminalayi Fubara for being proactive in rehabilitating the fire service before this time. If not for his investment in the Fire Service, this situation would have been worse,” she said.
Brown said the state medical services are on the ground to curtail any form of emergency.
Brown maintained that preliminary reports for cause of the fire may have been as a result of electrical faults.
“We urge all civil servants to take responsibility in safety. Put off our sockets and our lights.
“Not just putting off the sockets, but unplugging to ensure there is no residual charge because these buildings are heritage buildings and we don’t want anything to happen to them,” she also said.
The Head of Service further assured that Governor Siminalayi Fubara was working on measures to refurbish the buildings.
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