Demolished House Of Assembly Building Had Integrity Issues – Information Commissioner

Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communications, Mr. Joe Johnson, has disclosed that the House of Assembly building being demolished by the state government was no longer fit for human habitation since an explosion occurred there on October 29, 2023.
Speaking at the Dinner Night of the 2023 Correspondents’ Week of Correspondents’ Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Rivers State, last Friday, the commissioner said that the building consultants engaged to study the state of the building after the explosion returned a verdict that the structure be pulled down because it had been weakened.
“When there was a bang on the 29th October, it rattled the structure. The governor commissioned a team of builders to investigate it. The team reported that the place had lost integrity,” he said, adding that the court order of December 12th also declared that the premises should no longer be used for legislative work because of the state of the building.
Johnson said Governor Fubara was facing one of the hurdles of leadership and urged journalists to report the events professionally. But he said whatever the governor promises at this time he would stand by it.
Besides, he said the previous state governor had noted the defects in the building when the former leadership of the House of Assembly approached him to rehabilitate the building, which was leaking in several places when it rained.
Mr. Johnson said the demolition ordered by the state governor had nothing to do with the plan by a faction of the house of assembly to impeach him, saying, “Impeachment can take place anywhere. But government cannot allow a building conformed to be defective to collapse and kill people.”
Delivering the Dinner Talk, the Mayor of Housing, Mr. My-Ace China, said housing was one sector that can grow the economy tremendously if people key into it. He said the proposed 20,000 housing units by the state government could engage more than a million people and provide economic activities for many others.
He therefore urged journalist not just be chroniclers of the housing revolution but to join as active participants by exposing the potential of housing to the world and attracting investors. “You do not know who would watch your documentary and develop interest in it. And you would be the contact point,” he said.
The Head of Corporate Communications of Indorama Eleme Petrochemicals Limited, Dr. Jossy Nkwocha, praised journalists in Port Harcourt for their neutrality in the reportage of the political crisis in the state, saying it has saved the situation from deteriorating into lawlessness.
Mr Amaechi Okonkwo thanked the sponsors and partners who supported the Annual programme.
He said the aim of the Annual programme is to discuss issues affecting the state and socialize with each other.
He noted that the theme, “Rivers State and Quest for Ideal Investment Climate: Role of the Media,” is focused on the factors that affect entrepreneurs. The programme was hosted in partnership with the Mayor of Housing.
Awards and special were given to several Nigerians that had contributed to the development of the society media in the state. The special award was given to Mr. Kingsley Weneda Wali for his role in promoting unity and the reading culture in state. Special recognitions were given to the former Commissioner for Information and Communications, Alabo Chris Finebone, Senator Allwell Onyesoh, and Chief Ernest Chinwo, GM Rivers State Newspaper Corporation.