Governor Siminalayi Fubara of Rivers State has ordered the immediate closure and complete sealing of the site of the five-storey building that collapsed along Odili Road in Port Harcourt, vowing that the premises will remain shut until government uncovers the root cause of the tragedy.

The building, which was still under construction, collapsed on Wednesday, leaving one person dead and several others injured, while emergency agencies continue search-and-rescue operations for possible victims trapped beneath the rubble.

Visiting the scene on Thursday, Governor Fubara described the incident as both unfortunate and avoidable, saying preliminary findings indicated that the developer repeatedly resisted efforts by state authorities to inspect the project and ensure compliance with approved building regulations.

The governor, accompanied by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sir Amairigha Edward Hart, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Special Duties, Dabite Sokari George, said government would leave no stone unturned in determining the circumstances that led to the collapse.

“We are here to see for ourselves this very unfortunate incident,” Fubara said. “I did not come yesterday because I wanted to receive a formal briefing first. The Commissioner informed me that despite several attempts by government officials to inspect the project and assess compliance levels, the developer consistently maintained that the state had no authority to interfere because the site was under the jurisdiction of the Federal Housing Authority.”

The governor stressed that the issue had gone beyond questions of jurisdiction, noting that a life had been lost and families had been thrown into grief as a result of the collapse.

Expressing condolences to the family of the deceased and others affected by the disaster, Fubara insisted that adherence to established engineering and construction standards could have prevented the tragedy.

He lamented that such an incident could occur at a time when advances in engineering, technology and building safety standards have significantly reduced the risks associated with high-rise construction.

“It is regrettable that something like this should happen in the 21st century,” he said. “Engineering has evolved and technology has advanced. One wonders how a project with apparent defects from inception was allowed to continue.”

The governor announced that all activities at the site had been suspended indefinitely pending the outcome of investigations.

“Nothing is going to happen on this site anymore. We will ensure that this place remains completely sealed until we get to the root cause of this incident,” he declared.

The collapse has renewed concerns over compliance with building regulations and the enforcement of safety standards in the construction sector, with stakeholders calling for stricter oversight to prevent similar tragedies.

Meanwhile, rescue workers from multiple emergency agencies continued operations at the site as authorities sought to ascertain whether more victims remained trapped beneath the debris.

Fresh concerns over building safety have emerged following the collapse of a three-storey structure in the Alakija area of Lagos State on Thursday, with several persons feared trapped beneath the rubble.

The incident, which occurred at about 11:40 a.m., sent panic through the neighbourhood as residents and passersby gathered at the scene amid uncertainty over the fate of those believed to be trapped.

As of press time, the exact number of victims could not be immediately ascertained, while emergency responders were yet to arrive at the location. Authorities had also not disclosed the cause of the collapse or confirmed any casualties.

The latest incident comes barely 24 hours after a five-storey building under construction collapsed along Odili Road in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, prompting an intensive multi-agency rescue operation.

Unlike the uncertainty that initially surrounded the Lagos collapse, emergency authorities in Rivers have assured that rescue efforts will continue relentlessly until every person trapped beneath the debris is accounted for.

The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) said rescue workers would remain at the Port Harcourt site until all victims are recovered, dead or alive.

Head of NEMA’s Port Harcourt Operations Office, Dr. Chidi Ogundu, disclosed that four persons had so far been pulled from the rubble, including one deceased victim and three survivors who were rushed to hospital for treatment.

Describing the incident as unfortunate, Ogundu said the rescue mission was being undertaken through a coordinated effort involving NEMA, other emergency agencies and the Rivers State Government.

“Four people were brought out from the collapsed building — one dead and three alive. The rescue operation will continue until all persons trapped under the rubble are recovered,” he said.

He added that emergency personnel would continue working through Thursday and beyond if necessary to ensure that no victim remained trapped.

The twin incidents in Lagos and Rivers have once again drawn attention to the recurring challenge of building collapses in Nigeria, raising fresh questions about regulatory compliance, construction standards and the enforcement of safety measures across the country’s rapidly expanding urban centres.

While anxious families in Lagos await the commencement of rescue operations, authorities in Rivers say their focus remains on sustaining search-and-recovery efforts until every missing person is found.

Media Rights Agenda (MRA) has called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to urgently enact a comprehensive whistleblower protection law that meets international standards, warning that Nigerians who expose corruption and misconduct continue to face severe reprisals, including job loss, harassment, intimidation and physical harm.

The organisation made the call in a statement issued in Lagos to commemorate the 2026 World Whistleblower Day, observed globally by civil society groups, journalists, transparency advocates and accountability institutions to recognise the contributions of whistleblowers to good governance and public accountability.

MRA said despite various policy initiatives introduced over the years to encourage the reporting of corruption and wrongdoing, Nigeria still lacks a robust legal framework capable of providing effective and enforceable protection for whistleblowers.

The group’s Programme Officer, Adesewa Akintokun, said existing measures remain inadequate because they do not sufficiently guarantee confidentiality, protection from retaliation, access to remedies or support for individuals who disclose information in the public interest.

According to her, whistleblowers play a critical role in exposing corruption, fraud, abuse of office, human rights violations, environmental degradation, and threats to public health and safety.

“Whistleblowers often provide the first warning of misconduct that would otherwise remain hidden from public scrutiny. Their courage helps protect the public interest and strengthens democratic governance,” she said.

Akintokun expressed concern that many whistleblowers continue to suffer reprisals ranging from dismissal from employment and discrimination to reputational attacks, legal action and threats to their safety.

She noted that such actions not only violate the rights of whistleblowers but also discourage others from reporting wrongdoing, thereby weakening accountability mechanisms.

The organisation stressed that whistleblower protection is closely linked to the rights to freedom of expression, access to information and media freedom, arguing that individuals who expose wrongdoing contribute significantly to informed public debate and institutional accountability.

MRA urged the Federal Government to enact legislation that would establish secure reporting channels, guarantee protection for whistleblowers in both public and private sectors, ensure independent investigations of disclosures, and impose sanctions on individuals or institutions that retaliate against whistleblowers.

The group also called on public institutions, private companies, civil society organisations and professional bodies to adopt internal policies that encourage the reporting of misconduct and protect individuals who raise concerns in good faith.

It further urged journalists and media organisations to continue reporting responsibly on disclosures made in the public interest while safeguarding confidential sources.

“A society that values accountability must also value and protect those who have the courage to expose wrongdoing,” Akintokun said, calling for collective efforts to create an environment where whistleblowers can speak out without fear.

MRA paid tribute to whistleblowers in Nigeria and around the world, describing them as vital actors in the fight against corruption and abuse of power.

According to the organisation, their sacrifices have helped safeguard public resources, strengthen institutions and advance transparency, underscoring the importance of openness and accountability in democratic societies.

The Rivers State Government has intensified its war against medical quackery, shutting down five hospitals and a patent medicine store while arresting seven suspects over alleged child trafficking, illegal medical practice and operations without valid licences.

The latest crackdown, carried out by the State Anti-Quackery Committee in collaboration with security agencies, exposed what health authorities described as a disturbing network of unqualified practitioners endangering lives and exploiting vulnerable patients across the state.

Addressing journalists in Port Harcourt on Tuesday, Chairman of the Anti-Quackery Committee and Permanent Secretary-Designate in the Ministry of Health, Dr Vincent Wachukwu, said investigations revealed that several of the affected facilities were operated by individuals with no recognised medical qualifications, yet they performed surgeries, prescribed medications and administered treatments to unsuspecting members of the public.

More alarming, according to the committee, was the discovery of an alleged child-trafficking operation at EL DONA Hospital in Elekahia, Port Harcourt, where the proprietor was accused of swapping live newborns with dead babies and falsely informing mothers that their children had died during delivery.

Wachukwu said all staff members found at the facility were arrested, while the hospital was immediately sealed pending prosecution.

He alleged that the operator had for years exploited desperate mothers by presenting deceased infants as their own while illegally selling healthy newborns.

The committee also sealed a patent medicine store in Ndele, Emohua Local Government Area, following allegations that its operator administered an injection containing an unknown substance to a 20-year-old woman, resulting in her death. The victim, who had recently completed secondary school and was awaiting admission into a higher institution, reportedly died shortly after receiving treatment.

Another facility, PLARIV Hospital in Omoku, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government Area, was found to be operating without registration and allegedly run by a non-medical practitioner. Investigators discovered that the proprietor was conducting surgeries and operating an unauthorised training programme for auxiliary nurses, with more than 60 trainees reportedly enrolled.

Other facilities shut down include Good Shepherd Hospital in Omoku, Blessed GoodNews Clinic on Bonny Street, Port Harcourt, Estate Clinic in Okahia Estate, Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, and the patent medicine store in Ndele.

Health experts have repeatedly warned that quackery remains one of the gravest threats to healthcare delivery in Nigeria, contributing to avoidable deaths, medical complications and loss of public confidence in the health system.

The Rivers Government said the latest operation underscores the deadly consequences of patronising unlicensed facilities, where untrained individuals often masquerade as healthcare professionals, exposing patients to life-threatening risks.

Wachukwu noted that the state had recorded significant progress in its anti-quackery campaign over the past two years but warned that illegal operators continued to devise new methods to evade detection.

He commended the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Services, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the media for supporting the campaign against illegal healthcare providers.

The government also cautioned non-governmental organisations, religious bodies and private groups intending to conduct medical outreaches or health interventions in the state to obtain prior approval from the Ministry of Health.

According to the committee, the fight against quackery is not merely an enforcement exercise but a critical public health intervention aimed at protecting residents from exploitation, preventable deaths and criminal activities disguised as healthcare services.