Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State on Thursday visited the site of the collapsed four-storey building along the Peter Odili axis of Port Harcourt to assess the extent of the disaster and monitor ongoing rescue operations.
The governor’s visit came a day after the building, which was still under construction, came crashing down, trapping several people beneath the rubble and triggering a major emergency response.
During the inspection, Fubara commended rescue workers, emergency responders and volunteers for their efforts in searching for survivors and evacuating victims from the debris.
He praised the dedication displayed by the teams working at the scene and urged them to sustain the rescue operation until everyone trapped is accounted for.
Addressing concerns surrounding the collapsed structure, the governor clarified that the approval for the building was not issued by the Rivers State Government.
According to him, the construction permit was granted by a federal agency, distancing the state government from the approval process.
His clarification comes amid growing public scrutiny over building regulations and safety compliance following the incident.
Governor Condoles Victims’ Families
Fubara also expressed sympathy to families who lost loved ones in the collapse and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured.
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He assured affected families that the government would continue to support rescue efforts and closely monitor developments at the site.
The latest incident has heightened concerns over structural safety in Rivers State, coming less than 48 hours after a separate three-storey building collapsed in the Rumuolumeni area of Port Harcourt.
The two incidents, occurring within days of each other, have sparked fresh calls for stricter enforcement of building standards and improved monitoring of construction projects across the state.
As rescue operations continue at the Peter Odili axis, authorities are expected to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse and determine the cause of the disaster.