PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has held a crucial meeting with the newly appointed sole administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ette Ibas (retd.), at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, as the Federal Government confirmed that the state’s monthly allocation will be released to the administrator.
The Explainer gathered that the meeting, which took place on Wednesday afternoon, focused on governance and financial management in Rivers State following the president’s declaration of a state of emergency. This decision, announced on Tuesday night, led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.
With Ibas now in charge of the state’s administration, concerns had been raised over whether Rivers’ federal allocation—an average of ₦27.2 billion per month from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC)—would be accessible under the new arrangement.
However, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, confirmed that the funds would be released to the administrator upon request.
“If the administrator requests for it, it will be released to him. And to me, it will be in order for the release of that fund because the event of the extraordinary situation has brought them out of the normal situation of things,” Fagbemi stated during a press briefing at the Presidential Villa.
The Explainer reports that President Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State was triggered by prolonged political instability, which had disrupted governance and security. The crisis stemmed from a power struggle between Governor Fubara and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, now the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The president justified his action, saying it was in line with constitutional provisions.
“Having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State, and given that the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by Section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of Section 305 of the Constitution to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, March 18, 2025,” Tinubu announced.
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He clarified that while the executive and legislative branches had been suspended, the judiciary would remain functional.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function by their constitutional mandate,” he added.
Rivers State is one of Nigeria’s highest revenue-generating states, largely due to its vast oil wealth. According to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Rivers State received a total of ₦326.4 billion in Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) allocations in 2024, averaging ₦27.2 billion per month.
The Explainer learned that these funds are critical for paying civil servants, financing infrastructure projects, and running government operations. Under normal circumstances, the governor has full control over these funds, but with the suspension of the state’s elected officials, the administrator, Vice Admiral Ibas, will now oversee financial decisions.
The Federal Government’s assurance that Rivers’ allocation will be released suggests that the administrator will have access to funds necessary for governance. However, given that Ibas does not have legislative powers, any significant financial commitments may require federal approval.
The decision to channel Rivers State’s funds through a federally appointed administrator has sparked debate over financial autonomy. Critics argue that it sets a precedent for federal control over state resources, while supporters see it as a necessary measure to ensure stability.
Fagbemi defended the president’s decision, saying, “We have about two years into the administration in the state. Now, when do you think he (President Tinubu) should have come in? Is it when everything has been destroyed? I don’t think so. I think the President has acted timeously.”
