17/09/2025
Tinubu Announces End Of State Of Emergency In Rivers State
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared the end of the state of emergency in Rivers State, six months after its proclamation.
In a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday, the President recalled that the emergency rule, which was declared on March 18, 2025, followed a breakdown of governance in the state.
He said, “The summary of it for context is that there was a total paralysis of governance in Rivers State, which had led to the Governor of Rivers State and the House of Assembly being unable to work together. Critical economic assets of the State, including oil pipelines, were being vandalised.”
The President explained that the conflict between the governor and the House of Assembly left the state at a standstill. He noted that “Four members worked with the Governor, while 27 members opposed the Governor. The latter group supported the Speaker. As a result, the Governor could not present any Appropriation Bill to the House, to enable him to access funds to run Rivers State's affairs.”
Tinubu added that the situation had degenerated to the point that even the Supreme Court held in a judgment that there was no government in the state. According to him, efforts by him and other Nigerians to mediate were unsuccessful.
The President said this left him with no option but to invoke Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution. He explained, “The Offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and elected members of the State House of Assembly were suspended for six months in the first instance. The six months expire today, September 17th, 2025.”
He commended the National Assembly for approving the proclamation and also expressed appreciation to traditional rulers and residents of Rivers State for their support.
Acknowledging that several lawsuits had been filed against the proclamation, Tinubu said, “That is the way it should be in a democratic setting. Some cases are still pending in the courts as of today. But what needs to be said is that the power to declare a state of emergency is an inbuilt constitutional tool to address situations of actual or threatened breakdown of public order and public safety.”
He stressed that failure to act would have amounted to a dereliction of duty, pointing out that the political crisis had reached a level of complete disorder.
On the way forward, the President said intelligence reports indicated a new commitment among stakeholders to restore peace and governance in the state. “I am happy today that, from the intelligence available to me, there is a groundswell of a new spirit of understanding, a robust readiness, and potent enthusiasm on the part of all the stakeholders in Rivers State for an immediate return to democratic governance,” he said.
Tinubu then announced, “It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today. The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from 18 September 2025.”
He concluded by urging governors and lawmakers across the country to prioritize peace and stability. “I take this opportunity to remind the Governors and the Houses of Assembly of all the States of our country to continue to appreciate that it is only in an atmosphere of peace, order, and good government that we can deliver the dividends of democracy to our people.”
