A billboard collapsed onto a building in Port Harcourt on Sunday, March 23, 2025, due to heavy rain and a thunderstorm, causing significant damage but no immediate reports of casualties, according to local sources.
The incident occurred along the Eleme Expressway near the Oil Mill Market, a busy area in the city. An X post by Sopirinye Jaja reported the event, noting the billboard fell onto a multi-story building, possibly under construction or renovation. The post shared at 5:37 p.m. UTC, included an image showing a large metal framework, likely the billboard’s support structure, collapsed onto the building’s roof, scattering debris.
Local resident Chukwuemeka Nwabueze, who was shopping at the nearby market, said he heard a loud crash during the storm. “It was sudden and terrifying,” Okafor said. “I’m just glad no one was hurt as far as we know.”
It bears mentioning that emergency services were yet to be dispatched to the scene at press time to assess the damage and ensure public safety. Citizens have taken to social media to urge for better maintenance of outdoor structures, especially during the rainy season.
The X post listed the incident date as March 23, 2025. Weather data for Port Harcourt indicates that March typically sees significant rainfall, with thunderstorms common during this period, supporting the reported conditions.
The collapse raises concerns about billboard safety in the region. A similar incident in Mumbai, India, in May 2024, killed 14 people when a massive billboard fell during a storm, highlighting the global risks of such structures in severe weather.
In Nigeria, building collapses have also been a concern, with a 1990 incident in Port Harcourt claiming 50 lives.
Local authorities have launched an investigation to determine if the billboard complied with safety regulations and whether proper permits were obtained.
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The Rivers State Signage and Advertisement Agency, which oversees billboard installations, may face scrutiny as the investigation unfolds.
