The Rivers State Government has given reasons for the demolition of the State House of Assembly Complex.
The state Commissioner for Information, Joseph Johnson, in a statement on Wednesday said, the decision to demolish and rebuild the Rivers State House of Assembly Complex was due to the structural defects caused by the recent explosion and fire incident in the main building.
Johnson noted that Governor Siminalayi Fubara deemed it fit to rebuild the structure after he inspected the level of damage done to the building following the fire incident.
He said professionals were invited to advise the government on the integrity of the building and they noted that the structural defects have now made the complex unfit for human use.
Recall that on October 29 2023, there was an explosion in the Assembly complex which affected the hallowed chamber.
The state government claimed, “There were visible cracks on the walls afterwards and the entire structure looked frail and unsafe for legislative business.”
“After the assessment of the integrity of the complex, the experts warned the government that continuing to use the building in its present state would be disastrous.
“The government had tried all cost-saving measures towards the repair of the complex until it bowed to the superior view of rebuilding the complex to a more befitting edifice,” Johnson added.
The statement added that the Rivers State Government has provided an alternative venue “for the House of Assembly to conduct their affairs pending the rebuilding of the complex.”
