Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has ended a six-month State of emergency in the oil-rich Rivers State, following the resolution of a prolonged political crisis.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 17, Tinubu directed Governor Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, and members of the State House of Assembly to resume their duties effective Thursday. The emergency rule, which began on March 18 and placed the state under a sole administrator, was lifted due to the “restoration of peace and order.”
The political impasse had previously led to a complete paralysis of governance, with the governor and state legislature unable to function together. Critical infrastructure, including oil pipelines, was vandalized, and the assembly was deeply divided—27 members opposed the governor, while only four supported him. Tinubu noted that even the Supreme Court had acknowledged the absence of effective government in the state. His intervention, along with efforts by other stakeholders, eventually helped broker a truce, allowing for a return to democratic governance and institutional stability.