President Bola Tinubu has presented a ₦1.48 trillion budget proposal for Rivers State to the National Assembly, acting on behalf of the state’s Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas. The move comes in response to the Supreme Court’s nullification of a previous budget that was submitted by a faction of the Rivers State House of Assembly, deemed illegitimate by the court.
Tinubu cited the ongoing state of emergency in Rivers State and the six-month suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Prof. Ngozi Odu, and the entire State House of Assembly, as grounds for direct federal intervention. The political crisis emerged from a power struggle between Fubara and Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike, his former political ally, creating a governance vacuum in the state.
Retired Vice Admiral Ibas was appointed as Sole Administrator on March 19, 2025, following the declaration of emergency rule.
In his address, Tinubu outlined the budget’s allocations:
- ₦324 billion for infrastructure
- ₦166 billion for healthcare
- ₦75.6 billion for education
- ₦31.4 billion for agriculture
The president emphasized the job-creation potential of the budget, particularly through agriculture, which is expected to generate 6,000 jobs. Tinubu urged swift approval of the proposal by lawmakers, highlighting the importance of stabilizing Rivers State and resuming critical development programs under federal oversight during the emergency period.
