After six months of federal intervention, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has lifted the state of emergency in Rivers State, restoring full democratic governance and allowing Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and the State House of Assembly to resume office from September 18, 2025.
In a major political development, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially ended the state of emergency in Rivers State, effective midnight tonight, September 17, 2025. This action restores full democratic governance in the state as Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy Ngozi Nma Odu, and all members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, including Speaker Martins Amaewhule, will resume their duties from Thursday, September 18, 2025.
President Tinubu had declared the emergency on March 18, 2025, citing a breakdown of governance. A deep constitutional crisis between the Governor and the House of Assembly had made it impossible to pass an appropriation bill, effectively paralysing the state’s operations. At the same time, vandalism of oil pipelines and rising insecurity worsened the crisis. With both the Executive and Legislature locked in bitter disputes and the Supreme Court even noting the absence of effective governance, the President said he was left with no choice but to invoke Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution.
The National Assembly promptly approved the declaration, and the offices of the Governor, Deputy Governor, and House of Assembly members were suspended for six months. That period expired today. President Tinubu acknowledged that while some Nigerians challenged the move in court, including over 40 pending suits, the intervention was necessary to restore order.
In his speech announcing the end of the emergency, Tinubu said intelligence reports indicated a groundswell of understanding and renewed readiness among stakeholders to work together in the interest of peace and development. He stressed that governance cannot thrive in an atmosphere of conflict, anarchy, and insecurity, and urged other state executives and legislatures to draw lessons from the Rivers experience.
“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,” the President said.
The lifting of the emergency marks a turning point for Rivers State, which has spent six months under federal oversight with key institutions suspended. Citizens and political watchers will now be keen to see how the restored government tackles lingering divisions, rebuilds trust, and addresses urgent economic and security challenges.
