Why Demolished Rivers State House of Assembly

The Rivers State Government has offered clarification regarding the demolition of the House of Assembly complex.

In response to the recent bulldozing of the facility situated along Moscow Road, Port Harcourt, Commissioner for Information and Communications, Joseph Johnson, released a statement on Wednesday, attributing the demolition to the aftermath of a fire that engulfed the complex and caused extensive damage to property worth millions of naira.

Johnson explained that the structural integrity of the complex was compromised due to the recent explosion and fire incident, rendering it unsuitable for legislative activities. The government, after the Governor’s inspection of the damage on the day of the fire, sought professional advice on the building’s safety.

He elaborated, “Visible cracks on the walls and an overall frail and unsafe appearance prompted experts to advise against using the building for legislative purposes. Continuing to operate in its current state was deemed hazardous.”

To address the immediate needs of lawmakers, the state government has provided an alternative venue for conducting legislative affairs while plans for the reconstruction of the complex are underway.

The commissioner emphasized that the decision to demolish and rebuild was not taken lightly, stating, “The government explored various cost-saving measures for repairs, but the prevailing view of rebuilding the complex into a more fitting structure ultimately prevailed.”

The incident that led to the demolition occurred on October 30 when an explosion rocked the Rivers State House of Assembly complex. This event unfolded amid allegations of a potential impeachment of Governor Siminalayi Fubara by some lawmakers.