Rivers secretariat delivery: Fubara says new complex will be ready by early 2027

By: Abudu Olalekan

Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, says the rebuilt Rivers State Secretariat will be ready for use by the first quarter of 2027. That’s the timeline he’s putting on it. No long talk.

He spoke on Monday after he went round the site again—those tall buildings in the Old GRA area of Port Harcourt. According to a statement from his Chief Press Secretary, Onwuka Nzeshi, the governor said he wasn’t satisfied with just seeing the new “fine face” from outside. He wanted to step in and check what’s really happening inside.

And he did.

“I have been seeing the outer part wearing a new look, but I wanted to really confirm how much work is going on, most importantly the inside,” Fubara said. He added that from what he saw, the project should be handed over to the government by the first quarter of 2027, “by the grace of God.”

He also repeated his general promise—projects his administration starts, it plans to finish. Simple.

Now, this isn’t just any random building. The Rivers State Secretariat dates back to the 1970s, not long after the state was created in 1967. So yes, it’s old. And it has needed help for a while.

What’s coming up in its place is a large complex made up of several high-rise blocks: the 17-storey Point Block, the 10-storey Podium Block, and three other seven-storey buildings known as Blocks A, B and C.

The renovation itself is basically a full upgrade, not small patch-patch work. Structural repairs. New office layouts. Modern facilities. Better utilities. The idea is to bring the place up to today’s standard and give civil servants a more comfortable, more efficient, more tech-ready workspace.