By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has promised immediate rehabilitation of the State Civil Service Secretariat following a fire outbreak that gutted part of the complex on Monday evening.
Governor Fubara, who visited the site on Tuesday to assess the level of damage, described the incident as unfortunate but thanked God that no life was lost. He said the destruction was limited to a small section of the building.
The governor’s spokesman, Nelson Chukwudi, said in a statement that the affected area served as a creche for the babies of civil servants working in the secretariat.
Fubara explained that the fire would serve as a wake-up call for his administration to fast-track the renovation and refurbishment of the Secretariat Complex, which has been under consideration.
He praised the State Fire Service for their swift response, noting that the firefighting teams were able to contain the flames before they spread to other sections of the complex.
The governor said his earlier investments in strengthening the state’s three fire service stations were invaluable in averting a major disaster.
He also commended civil servants for their resilience, loyalty, and support for his administration. He reassured them of his government’s commitment to prioritising their welfare.
“I came here this morning to see for myself what happened yesterday. It’s really unfortunate, but we give God all the glory that no life was lost and the damage was only in one section,” Fubara said.
He stressed that the incident had reinforced the need to speed up the long-awaited renovation of the complex. “With this particular incident, there should be no further delay. Whatever is required by this government to commence that process, we will immediately swing into action,” he added.
The governor also highlighted the importance of proactive governance, recalling how his administration strengthened emergency services before the recent emergency rule in the state.
Governor Fubara was received at the Secretariat by a jubilant crowd of civil servants, the Head of Service, and several Permanent Secretaries, including the newly sworn-in Austin Ezekiel-Hart.