President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially lifted the six-month state of emergency earlier imposed on Rivers State.
The directive, shared on Wednesday, September 17, by presidential aide Bayo Onanuga, instructs Governor Siminalayi Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly to resume their constitutional duties on Thursday, September 18.
In a nationwide address, Tinubu recalled that the emergency rule, declared on March 18, 2025, became necessary following a paralysis of governance in the state.
He cited a breakdown in relations between the governor and the House of Assembly, vandalism of economic assets, and a constitutional impasse that crippled governance.
According to the president, his decision came after repeated but failed reconciliation efforts by mediators and stakeholders.
Tinubu thanked the National Assembly for swiftly approving the proclamation and expressed appreciation to Rivers residents for their patience and support during the period.
He also acknowledged dissenting voices that challenged the declaration in court, describing such actions as part of the democratic process. “The power to declare a state of emergency is a constitutional tool to address threats to public order and safety. It would have been a failure not to act,” he stated.
Explaining his decision to lift the rule, Tinubu said recent intelligence reports revealed a new spirit of cooperation among political stakeholders in Rivers State. “I do not see why the state of emergency should exist a day longer than the six months I had pronounced,” he added.
The president urged political leaders nationwide to learn from the Rivers experience and prioritize cooperation between the executive and legislature, stressing that peace and harmony are essential for delivering the dividends of democracy.