Business

Rivers State explains reasons for demolition of House of Assembly complex

The Rivers State Government has explained the reason for the demolition of the State House of Assembly complex.

The state government said the exercise was carried out on the advice of consultants, who warned that the building is no longer habitable.

This disclosure is contained in a statement issued by the Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Joseph Johnson, on Wednesday, December 13, 2023.

The government said the advice to demolish and restructure the building was predicated on the recent fire that gutted the complex and destroyed property worth millions of naira, which the commissioner said rendered the facility unfit for legislation.

Johnson said further said the state government has already provided an alternative place for the lawmakers to carry on their affairs pending the rebuilding of the complex.

Recall that on October 30, an explosion rocked the Rivers State House of Assembly complex with some properties in the chamber said to have been destroyed.

According to media reports, the incident was said to have occurred when some suspected arsonists threw an explosive into the complex around 9.30 pm, thereby causing a fire outbreak in the assembly building.

This is coming amidst rumours of moves by some lawmakers to impeach the Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara.