Amid growing political unrest and security concerns, President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Sim Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly for six months.
In an emergency national address on Tuesday, Tinubu expressed frustration over the prolonged crisis, citing governance paralysis and rising security threats.
“For 14 months, the Rivers House of Assembly has remained in ruins after its demolition, and all attempts at resolution have failed,” Tinubu stated. “No responsible leader can stand by and watch a state descend into lawlessness.”
To restore order, Tinubu appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd.) as the Administrator of Rivers State until normalcy is restored.
The declaration follows fresh explosions at an oil facility in Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni Local Government and a separate fire outbreak at the Trans-Niger Pipeline operated by Shell.
With political tension and security risks escalating, this move is expected to spark intense reactions from key stakeholders across the country.
