Rivers Shuts Down Secretariat for Rehabilitation

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The Rivers State Government has announced that the State Secretariat Complex in Port Harcourt will be shut down from Friday to allow for comprehensive rehabilitation works to commence.

In a circular issued by the Office of the Head of the Civil Service, workers were directed to remain at home throughout the renovation period. The circular, signed by the Head of Service, Inyingi Brown, stated that only employees on essential duties will be granted access to the premises while work is ongoing.

Brown instructed permanent secretaries and heads of ministries, departments and agencies to ensure that only personnel whose physical presence is absolutely necessary are allowed into the complex during the shutdown. She said the directive is intended to protect staff and guarantee a smooth execution of the project. Further information on when normal operations will resume will be communicated later, she added.

The State Secretariat, built over 50 years ago during the administration of Alfred Diete-Spiff, has suffered decades of neglect. Several attempts by past administrations to rehabilitate the facility in the last 15 years failed to materialise, leaving critical infrastructure in disrepair. Power and water supply systems are largely non-functional, while window fittings, floors, railings and other structural components are in dire need of replacement or repair.

Governor Siminalayi Fubara had listed the rehabilitation of the complex as one of his early priorities after assuming office in 2023. However, work had not commenced before he was suspended from office by the President.

During his suspension, the Sole Administrator, Ibok-Ette Ibas, awarded the rehabilitation contract to the China Civil Engineering Construction Corporation (CCECC) for N134 billion and released N20 billion as mobilisation, a decision that generated controversy. Not long afterwards, part of the complex was gutted by fire.

Upon returning to office in September, Governor Fubara cancelled the contract and directed CCECC to refund the mobilisation fee.

Details of a new contract, including cost and timeline for completion, are yet to be made public.