President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday lifted the six-month emergency rule imposed on Rivers State, reinstating Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the 31-member House of Assembly after declaring that a constitutional crisis that had crippled governance in the state had been resolved, Reuters reported.
The emergency rule was first declared on March 18 following a protracted standoff between Governor Fubara and the state legislature, which blocked budget approvals and left the state government at a standstill.
Tinubu defended the move at the time, saying it was necessary to prevent anarchy in the state.
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Rivers State, located in the Niger Delta, is one of Nigeria’s most important oil-producing regions and a hub for crude exports.
In the past, militants in the area have targeted pipelines, disrupting production and government revenue.
Announcing the end of emergency rule, Tinubu said intelligence reports indicated a “groundswell of a new spirit of understanding” among political stakeholders, making it possible to restore democratic governance.
He confirmed that the governor, his deputy, and lawmakers would resume their official duties on September 18.
The emergency declaration sparked more than 40 legal challenges across courts in Abuja, Port Harcourt, and Yenagoa.
Tinubu defended his decision, insisting it was a constitutional instrument for restoring order and stressing that disagreement remained a natural part of democratic practice.
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Image Credit: TRT Afrika
