Reported by Ariajegbe Sylvia Esezobor
Four persons were injured when part of a two-storey building collapsed in the Old Port Harcourt Township area of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, on Friday night, in an incident that has renewed concerns about the safety of ageing structures across the city and prompted the state government to order occupants to vacate the premises.
The building, located at No. 18 Club Road, is said to be one of the oldest in the area, having stood for more than 60 years, according to an eyewitness who spoke on condition of anonymity. The eyewitness said the parapet of the building's second floor broke away from the main structure and crashed onto the ground floor, where fun seekers were gathered at a bar. Three people, including a woman, were initially reported to have been injured when the debris fell on them, and no death was recorded.
"It happened around 7 pm on Friday. People were seated at the bar on the ground floor drinking and having fun when suddenly the parapet of the building pulled off and found its way down," the source said. "There was confusion because nobody expected that sort of thing. About three or four persons were injured in the incident, especially a lady who sustained injuries from parts of her head to one of her ears. My brother, you can see for yourself that it is a very old building." The source added, "I'm over 50 years old, and I grew up to know this building. It is over 60 years old, and you can see the structure is getting weak. Who knows if the building has been renovated before?"
The Rivers State Police Command confirmed the incident and the number of injured persons, with the spokesperson, Blessing Agabe, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, stating that an investigation had been launched. "Yes, I can confirm the incident. Four persons were injured, and they were rushed to the hospital. Meanwhile, the place has been cordoned off, and the investigation is ongoing," Agabe said. A visit by Punch correspondent to the scene on Sunday showed that the debris that littered the front of the building had been cleared, although signs of the collapse remained. The occupants had vacated the premises, and the perimeter of the building had been cordoned off with red tape, reportedly placed by government officials who visited the scene on Saturday.
The Rivers State Ministry of Urban Development and Physical Planning ordered all occupants of the building to vacate the premises for their safety and warned residents against living in similarly old structures. The Press Secretary to the ministry, Isabella Ibim, confirmed the commissioner's directive after he led a team to inspect the scene on Saturday afternoon. "Yes, I can tell you that the Commissioner visited the place yesterday and he asked the occupants to vacate the building. He also advised people against living in such old buildings because it poses grave danger to lives," Ibim said. "He was happy that no life was lost. He examined the building and saw that it was just a part that fell from the beam. He suspected that the building was over 50 years old." Ibim added that the ministry had been conducting sensitisation in Mile 1, 2 and 3 axis of Diobu, Borikiri and other parts of the city, marking out old buildings due for renovation. The affected building was cordoned off and marked with red tape, and residents were asked to vacate.
The Rivers State Government subsequently issued a formal warning against occupying old and distressed buildings, in a statement signed by Boma Waribor, Press Secretary to the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development. The Commissioner, Hon. Amairigha Edward Hart, gave the warning during an inspection of the affected building, where a roof slab and an extension of the front balcony collapsed at about 9pm on October 9. Hart said physical observations showed that the building, believed to be over 50 years old, had exceeded its lifespan and become unsafe for habitation. The affected section was marked "VACATE – UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION." The commissioner disclosed that the ministry had commenced a proactive audit of old buildings, beginning in Diobu and extending to other parts of Port Harcourt, to identify structures that pose risks to occupants. He urged residents to cooperate with the ministry by allowing integrity tests to be conducted on suspected distressed buildings and stressed the need for occupants to comply with demolition orders where necessary to prevent loss of lives.
The incident has drawn the attention of professional bodies. The Chairman of the Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Rivers State Chapter, Dr. Tamunoikuronibo Dawaye Ikiriko, called on the Rivers State Government to expedite urban renewal in parts of Port Harcourt following the collapse. Ikiriko, who spoke during an assessment of the affected building, said the incident was not a major structural collapse but involved a projected section of the building known as a cantilever. He attributed the incident to the deterioration of building materials, water leakages and inadequate maintenance, noting that some of the buildings in the area had stood for more than 70 years. He called for a comprehensive urban renewal programme through which ageing buildings would be assessed, evaluated and subjected to appropriate safety measures, urging the government to designate the affected area as a priority zone for urban renewal.
The owner of the Dine and Wine bar at No. 18 Club Road, identified as Ijeoma, said the incident occurred between 7pm and 8pm while she and her workers were attending to customers. She said they suddenly heard a loud noise from the upper floor of the two-storey building and rushed outside, only to discover that a section of the structure had fallen onto solar panels installed at the premises. Ijeoma said the solar panels and their supporting metal rods helped shield customers from the falling debris, limiting the injuries sustained. "Thank goodness for the solar panels that I had, with the iron rods, so the thing was able to protect the customers. Just two persons were injured, one on the leg and one on the ear," she said. She explained that the two injured women were taken to a hospital for treatment and were doing well.
The incident adds to a series of building collapses that have occurred in Rivers State in 2026. In June, a five-storey building under construction along Dr. Peter Odili Road in Port Harcourt collapsed, killing one person and injuring several others, prompting Governor Siminalayi Fubara to order the immediate sealing of the site and a full investigation. In September, a section of a two-storey building collapsed in Igwuruta, Ikwerre Local Government Area. The recurrence of these incidents has raised questions about enforcement of building regulations and the safety of ageing structures across the city. For the occupants of No. 18 Club Road, the incident is a narrow escape that has left them displaced and uncertain about the future of the building. For the Rivers State Government, it is another test of its capacity to enforce regulations and protect residents from the dangers of distressed buildings. As the Commissioner for Physical Planning and Urban Development put it, further structural investigations are expected to be conducted to determine whether the building should be demolished or undergo major restoration, and the ministry has cautioned the public to stay away from the cordoned-off area and desist from scavenging around the collapsed section.
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