Rain Storm De-Roofs BMSH, NUJ Buildings

Acting President Goodluck Jonathan (right),congratulating the Minister of Information and Communications, Prof. Dora Akunyili,during the swearing-in ceremony in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: NAN

The heavy storm that accompanied yesterday’s rain in Port Harcourt has deroofed the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) state secretariat building in Port Harcourt.

Though the building was not totally deroofed, half of the one-storey complex roof was torn apart by the heavy storm that lasted for over 30 minutes, as people scampered for safety.

Though no life was lost, state chairman of NUJ , Mr Opaka Dokubo, while reacting to the development on phone told The Tide that the incident has affected the council’s operations. Most of the offices he revealed are flooded .

Similarly, just few meters from the NUJ complex, two communication masts located inside the office of the Swift Operation Squad (SOS), close to the Government House collapsed on top of the building.

The Tide learnt that the communication gadget belongs to the Nigeria Police and serves as transmission line for most of its operation in the state.

Though no life was lost, during the incident, the masts destroyed the roof of the administrative block and a PHCN distribution line at the rear side of the building.

Meanwhile, properties worth millions of naira have been destroyed by the rainstorm at the Braithwait Memorial Specialists Hospital (BMSH) Port Harcourt.

Areas affected by the storm include the female surgical ward, which was deroofed, while windows glasses and a number of other items were destroyed at the hospital’s main building.

Conducting newsmen round the affected buildings, the medical director of the hospital, Dr Bernard Aprioku described the incident as a big setback for the hospital.

Dr Aprioku said the management is working hard to ensure that patients at the affected buildings are evacuated to other buildings to enable them receive treatment.

He also said the incident has already been reported to the state commissioner for Health, Dr Sampson Parker, and the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry.

Meanwhile, the Rivers State Council of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on public spirited individuals and friends of the press to come to the aid of the council.

The state chairman of the council, Mr Opaka Dokubo said this while reacting to the incident in a telephone interview with The Tide.

John Bibor