It was a scene to behold on Tuesday morning as Rivers State Civil Servants went wild with joy as the state governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara visited the scene of yesterday’s fire which consumed a part of the ground floor of the Podium block of the Secretariat complex.
It was the governor’s first visit to the Secretariat Complex since the end of the emergency rule and his reinstatement on September 17.
Governor Fubara, who arrived at the complex at about 11.30 a.m., could not help but respond with smiles to the enthusiastic crowd who had gathered on learning of his visit.
The governor went straight to inspect the area that was consumed by the inferno yesterday.
Governor Fubara declined to comment on the fire and what the government’s response would be to the unfortunate scenario.
Some civil servants who spoke with The Atlantic Bell at the Secretariat said that in spite of the unfortunate situation, they were overjoyed to see the governor and could not resist expressing their joy.
It would be recalled that a raging inferno destroyed a wing of the ground floor of the Podium Block yesterday. The area mostly affected was the Audit Unit, which lost valuables, although no life was lost.
Yesterday, the Head of the Civil Service in the state, Dr. Inyingi Brown, who visited the scene, said there were no casualties during the fire incident that occurred at the State Secretariat Complex on Monday.
Speaking to newsmen on the ground floor of Podium Block, location of the incident, the Head of Service disclosed that on noticing the fire outbreak, the State Fire Service and other agencies were promptly called to contain the inferno.
“We were informed that there was a fire incident at the right wing, ground floor of Podium Block and we immediately made calls to the Rivers State Fire Service, and they responded promptly.
“We also called other partners of the state, such as Renaissance, Federal Fire Service, and the military, who all promptly sent their fire trucks. It was a combined effort, and as we speak, you can see that the fire has been contained,” she stated.
“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 stressed.
She disclosed that no life was lost, even though the state medical service was on the ground to curtail any emergency.
She explained that preliminary reports suggest the fire may have been as a result of electrical faults and thereby called on all civil servants to be responsible in putting off all electrical services at the close of work.
“We urge all civil servants to take responsibility in safety. Put off our sockets and our lights. Not just putting off the sockets, but unplug to ensure there is no residual charge because these buildings are heritage buildings, and we don’t want anything to happen to them,” she admonished.
Dr. Brown further assured that Governor Fubara was working on measures to refurbish the secretariat buildings, which will be made known soon.
