Fire Guts Section of Rivers State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt

Port Harcourt, Nigeria — October 7, 2025

A late-night fire broke out on Monday at the Rivers State Secretariat complex in Port Harcourt, causing panic and concern among government officials and residents. The incident affected a section of the Podium Block, a critical part of the complex housing various state departments.

Preliminary investigations suggest that the fire originated from an electrical fault in the crèche section of the building. The blaze, which began after official working hours, was eventually brought under control by emergency responders, preventing it from spreading to other parts of the complex.

Speaking on the incident, the Rivers State Head of Service, Dr. Inyingi Brown, confirmed that while the fire was serious, it did not affect the Pension Board Department as initially feared.
“There is no indication of sabotage. From what we have gathered so far, the fire started due to an electrical fault within the crèche section,” Dr. Brown stated. She assured the public that further investigations would be conducted to fully understand the cause and to prevent a recurrence.

No casualties have been reported, and the extent of the damage is still being assessed by state authorities.
The Rivers State Government is expected to provide updates as more details emerge.