Rivers Govt Warns Against Occupying Distressed Buildings After Partial Collapse on Club Road
PORT HARCOURT — The Rivers State Government has warned residents against occupying old and structurally distressed buildings, following the partial collapse of a more than 50-year-old two-storey building at No. 18 Club Road, Port Harcourt.
The warning was issued by the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sir Amairigha Edward Hart, during an inspection of the affected building on Saturday, October 10, 2026.
The incident occurred at about 9 p.m. on Friday, October 9, when a roof slab and the building’s front balcony extension collapsed. No lives were lost.
The affected premises have been cordoned off and marked “VACATE — UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION” pending further structural investigations to determine whether the building should be demolished or subjected to major restoration.
Hart, who expressed gratitude that the incident claimed no lives, said a physical assessment of the structure indicated that it had exceeded its serviceable lifespan and had become potentially dangerous to occupants.
He described the collapse as a warning sign of structural weakness, urging residents to take the safety of old buildings seriously rather than wait for a complete collapse before evacuating.
The commissioner disclosed that the ministry had commenced a proactive audit of ageing buildings, beginning in Diobu and extending to other parts of Port Harcourt, to identify structures that may pose risks to human lives and property.
According to him, the exercise is designed to identify buildings that have exceeded their lifespan, advise occupants to vacate unsafe premises and recommend major restoration where structural assessments establish that the buildings can be salvaged.
He urged residents to cooperate with the ministry by allowing integrity tests and other necessary investigations on buildings suspected of being distressed.
Hart also warned that occupants must comply with official evacuation and demolition directives, where issued, to prevent avoidable loss of lives.
He noted that neighbouring buildings constructed around the same period could also be vulnerable and advised residents to exercise caution when renting old properties.
The ministry further cautioned the public against entering the cordoned-off area or scavenging around the collapsed section, pending the completion of safety assessments.
Further structural investigations are expected to be conducted within the week to establish the building’s condition and determine whether demolition or major restoration is appropriate.
Officials of the Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Federal Fire Service, the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital (RSUTH) Emergency Service Unit were present during the inspection.
The state government said the exercise formed part of its commitment to protecting residents and promoting a safe and habitable urban environment under Governor Siminalayi Fubara’s administration.
The incident underscores the importance of regular structural assessments, particularly in older urban neighbourhoods where ageing buildings may pose safety risks to occupants, neighbouring properties and passers-by.
