An old house partially collapsed in Port Harcourt to force the state government to announce a head count of old houses in the state. But in Bayelsa, the fear is higher, not because of old houses, but because of tremor.
In Rivers State, the State Government has begun auditing old buildings in Diobu and other parts of Port Harcourt to identify structures that have outlived their lifespan and pose a threat to public safety.
This is as panic gripped residents across some border communities in Bayelsa and Rivers States following an earth tremor that struck on Thursday, October 8, 2026.
This marks the third recorded tremor in the area, following previous occurrences in 2014 and 2016, according to Alambo Tatonye.
Although no lives were lost, reports said many communities across Yenagoa Local Government Area and Ahoada West Local Government Area felt the impact.
Datonye wrote saying: “Palpable fear gripped Kalaba and Ikarama communities in Bayelsa State, alongside Mbiama and Iluma in Rivers State, as natives and residents rushed out of their buildings during the tremor.”
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Putting the tremor in historical context, he noted that two previous tremors occurred at night—12 and 14 years previously – affecting Ikarama in the Okordia clan, Igbogene, and Akenfa in Bayelsa State, as well as Mbiama, Akinima, and Akinowiso in Rivers State.
Residents in communities expressed deep alarm and fright over the development. A chief noted that the shaking caused ground and building vibrations starting around 1:00 PM, prompting people working in nearby forests to flee.
More residents recounted intense shaking, loud noises, and visible cracks appearing on buildings due to the heavy vibrations. Residents in all affected communities called for urgently intervention of government authorities.
In Port Harcourt, Amairigha Edward Hart, commissioner, Ministry of Physical Planning and Urban Development, announced plans to start census of old houses over the partial collapse of the more than 50-year-old structure on Club Road in the Township area of Port Harcourt.
The building at No. 18 Club Road partially collapsed at about 9 p.m. on Friday, October 9, with its roof slab and front balcony extension giving way, witnesses said.
The commissioner warned citizens against occupying unsafe and distressed buildings.
Boma Waribor, press secretary to the commissioner, in a statement, pointed out that no lives were lost. He said the affected area has been cordoned off and marked “Vacate – Unfit for Human Habitation”.
Edward Hart said the collapse showed that the structure had become weak and was no longer fit for habitation.
He said the ministry had started a proactive audit of old buildings in Diobu and was extending the exercise to other parts of Port Harcourt.
The audit is intended to identify structures that have exceeded their lifespan, advise occupants to leave unsafe buildings and recommend major restoration where buildings are not beyond repair.
Edward Hart urged residents to cooperate with the ministry and allow integrity tests on buildings suspected of being distressed.
He also warned that neighbouring buildings constructed around the same period could be affected and advised the public against renting old, distressed properties.
Hart said buildings marked for demolition should be vacated and residents should stay clear of the cordoned-off site.
Officials from the ministry, the National Emergency Management Agency, Federal Fire Service, Nigerian Society of Engineers and RSUTH Emergency Service Unit were also at the inspection.
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