Tinubu lifts state of emergency in Rivers State

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally announced the end of the state of emergency in Rivers State, six months after it was declared to resolve a crippling governance crisis.

In a nationwide broadcast on Wednesday, the President said the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly would lapse at midnight, paving the way for a full return to democratic governance from Thursday, September 18.

Tinubu recalled that the state of emergency, proclaimed on March 18, 2025, became necessary following a political deadlock between the executive and legislature in Rivers State. He noted that the division within the House of Assembly and its conflict with the governor had paralyzed governance, disrupted economic activities, and even prompted the Supreme Court to declare that there was effectively no government in the state.

“The situation had reached a point of total breakdown of public order and public safety,” the President said. “It would have been a colossal failure on my part not to have made that proclamation.”

While acknowledging dissenting voices that challenged the legality of his decision in over 40 court cases, Tinubu emphasized that the declaration was constitutionally backed and necessary to prevent anarchy.

The President expressed gratitude to the National Assembly, traditional rulers, and the people of Rivers State for their support during the emergency period. He also praised recent signs of reconciliation and cooperation among stakeholders in the state, describing them as a “groundswell of a new spirit of understanding.”

“With effect from midnight today, the emergency in Rivers State shall end,” Tinubu declared. “The Governor, Deputy Governor, and members of the House of Assembly will resume work in their offices from September 18, 2025.”

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