RismadarVoice Reporters, June 26, 2026
Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, has expressed sadness over the collapse of a three-storey building under construction along Peter Odili Road, Port Harcourt, describing the incident as unfortunate and avoidable.
In a statement posted on his official Facebook page on Friday, the governor said he visited the scene of the incident on Thursday, where he assessed the ongoing rescue operations and sympathised with victims and their families.
“The loss of human lives deeply touches us, as such misfortune should not have occurred in modern times when professional standards and safety measures are expected to guide construction activities,” Fubara said.
He commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives and wished those injured a speedy recovery, assuring that the government would continue to take measures to prevent similar incidents.
The governor also disclosed that he had ordered the immediate closure of the construction site pending a full investigation into the cause of the collapse.
Meanwhile, rescue operations continued at the site on Friday as emergency responders worked to reach persons believed to be trapped beneath the rubble.
The exercise, which began early Thursday, continued until about 6 p.m., then was suspended for the day and resumed on Friday.
Authorities are yet to confirm the total number of casualties, while emergency agencies remain at the scene in search of additional survivors.
