Abuja: Nigerian President Bola Tinubu has declared a state of emergency in oil-rich Rivers State, suspending the state governor, his deputy, and all lawmakers amid escalating security concerns.
In a televised address, Tinubu stated that he had received security reports detailing “disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them.” He emphasized the necessity of intervention, declaring, “With all these and many more, no good and responsible president will stand by and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the constitution to address the situation in the state.”
Earlier, police confirmed they were investigating an explosion along Nigeria’s Trans Niger Pipeline, a critical conduit transporting crude oil from onshore fields to the Bonny export terminal. The blast triggered a fire, further intensifying concerns over sabotage in the Niger Delta region, a historically volatile area where militants have previously targeted oil infrastructure, disrupting production and exports.
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Rivers State has also been mired in a political crisis, with rival factions of the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) clashing. State lawmakers had recently threatened to impeach both the governor and his deputy, exacerbating instability.
The state of emergency grants the federal government authority to implement regulations to govern Rivers State and facilitates the deployment of security forces as needed. Tinubu has appointed a retired vice admiral as caretaker administrator for an initial six-month period to oversee state affairs.
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The president confirmed that he had submitted a copy of his proclamation to the National Assembly, which holds the power to approve or reject the decision.
“For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate,” Tinubu clarified.
