A major fire disaster struck the core of the Rivers State administration today, engulfing a section of the Podium Block at the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt. The incident, which began on the afternoon of October 6, 2025, has resulted in severe damage to the area housing the Rivers State Pension Board, prompting a major emergency response effort.
The fire outbreak sent plumes of heavy, dark smoke across the Port Harcourt skyline, immediately triggering panic among civil servants and residents. Responding swiftly to the emergency, firefighters from both the State and Federal Fire Services were deployed to the scene, focusing on containment to prevent the fire from spreading to the many other critical government offices located within the multi-block complex.
The incident was officially confirmed by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Dr. Honour Siriwo. Speaking to correspondents earlier today, Dr. Siriwo acknowledged the severity of the fire and the ongoing efforts to subdue it. “Firefighters from both the State and Federal Fire Services are currently at the scene, working hard to put out the flames,” he stated.
Crucially, as of the time of the latest update, authorities could not confirm any casualties. Dr. Siriwo noted that the immediate priority of the emergency teams was to ensure the safety of personnel and secure the area, before a comprehensive assessment can be carried out. The presence of personnel in the building during the outbreak remains a primary safety concern.
The section most affected—the office of the Rivers State Pension Board—raises immediate concerns regarding the safety of vital public records. The fire directly threatens decades of employee data, service files, and financial documents critical to the administration of pensions for retired civil servants in the state. The potential destruction of these records could create enormous administrative hurdles for the state’s retirement system.
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The incident is particularly sensitive given recent developments concerning the board. Governor Siminalayi Fubara had, on September 26, 2025, dissolved the Pension Board and ordered its functions, assets, and properties to be handed over to the Office of the Accountant General, a move that placed the physical records under enhanced administrative transition.
Authorities have cautioned the public and the media against speculation regarding the cause of the fire. The focus remains on extinguishing the blaze, after which a detailed investigation will commence to determine whether the fire was accidental, due to an electrical fault, or the result of sabotage, particularly in light of previous incidents of arson targeting local government facilities in the state.
The Secretariat complex remains cordoned off as emergency operations continue into the evening.
