The Rivers State Government has warned residents against occupying ageing and structurally distressed buildings following the partial collapse of a two-storey property on Club Road, Port Harcourt.
The incident reportedly occurred at about 9 p.m. on Friday, October 9, 2026, when part of the building’s roof slab and front balcony extension collapsed.
According to a report published on Saturday, October 10, no casualties were recorded in the incident.
The Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development, Sir Amaopusenibo Amairigha Edward Hart, issued the warning during an inspection of the affected property.
Following the incident, authorities cordoned off the affected section and marked the building as unfit for human habitation, directing occupants to vacate the premises.
Hart expressed relief that no lives were lost but raised concerns about the safety of ageing buildings across Port Harcourt.
He disclosed that the ministry had commenced an assessment of old buildings, beginning in Diobu, with plans to extend the exercise to other parts of the state capital.
The assessment is intended to identify structurally unsafe properties and determine whether they require evacuation, rehabilitation or demolition.
The commissioner urged property owners and residents to cooperate with officials conducting structural integrity assessments, stressing the importance of identifying defects before they result in further incidents.
He also advised prospective tenants to exercise caution when renting old buildings, particularly properties showing visible signs of structural deterioration.
The government warned residents against ignoring evacuation notices and advised members of the public to keep away from the affected property while further investigations continue.
The development has renewed attention on building safety and the need for proper maintenance and enforcement of construction standards across Port Harcourt and other parts of Rivers State.
