Freetown, Sierra Leone – Vice President Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh today led a high-profile inspection of the State House following a recent fire incident that caused significant damage to parts of the building.
Accompanied by the Secretary to the President, the State House Chief of Staff, and other senior officials, Dr. Jalloh toured the affected areas, including the third and fourth floors, which sustained the most severe damage. He also visited the Office of the President on the second floor.
“We are here not just to assess the damage, but to ensure a coordinated and effective response to this unfortunate incident,” said Vice President Jalloh during the site visit.
The visit comes after the Vice President’s initial response yesterday, when he swiftly visited the scene and held an emergency overnight meeting with key officials at his office to strategize immediate action.
At the site today, Dr. Jalloh was briefed by the Chief Fire Officer and other emergency personnel on the response efforts and preliminary damage assessments.
Following the inspection, the Vice President convened a high-level Interagency Response Team comprising representatives from law enforcement, engineering experts, the Ministry of Works and Public Assets, the Electricity Distribution and Supply Authority (EDSA), and other relevant bodies.
“The Response Team has been given a clear mandate,” Dr. Jalloh stated. “They are to conduct a thorough investigation into the cause of the fire, assess the full extent of the infrastructural and operational damage, and provide concrete recommendations for recovery and restoration.”
The Vice President will chair daily briefings with the Response Team, and an initial report is expected within a week.
“The public deserves transparency and swift action,” Dr. Jalloh emphasized. “The Government will continue to provide timely updates as we work to restore the State House.”
Authorities have assured the public that operations will continue uninterrupted as restoration plans are implemented.
