Gov Fubara Orders Closure of Collapsed Building Site, Launches Probe

Rivers State Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara, has ordered the immediate closure of the site of a collapsed building on Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt, pending a full investigation into the incident that claimed several lives.

The governor issued the directive today (Thursday June 25, 2026) during an inspection of the scene, where he expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and sympathised with the families of those who lost their lives.

Fubara explained that he delayed visiting the site until he received an official briefing from the relevant authorities. According to him, the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Amairigha Edward Hart, informed him that the building project falls under the jurisdiction of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA), not the Rivers State Government.

He revealed that officials of the state government had made several attempts to inspect the project during construction to ensure compliance with approved building standards, but were reportedly denied access by the developer, who maintained that the state lacked the authority to supervise the project.

The governor stressed that the government’s interest was solely to protect lives and ensure strict adherence to safety regulations, not to interfere with the development.

Describing the incident as both unfortunate and preventable, Fubara questioned how a building with apparent structural deficiencies was allowed to progress despite modern engineering practices and construction standards.

He assured the families of the victims of the government’s support and vowed that no further activity would be permitted at the site until investigators establish the cause of the collapse.

The governor directed that the premises remain sealed while a comprehensive investigation is carried out to determine the circumstances surrounding the disaster.