Amid escalating tensions in Rivers State, President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared a six-month state of emergency, citing a prolonged political crisis and multiple judicial rulings on constitutional breaches by Governor Siminalayi Fubara.
Earlier, Tinubu convened a high-level emergency meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja with key National Assembly officers and top security chiefs.
The meeting was prompted by the ongoing political standoff in Rivers, which raised fears of instability, and a recent pipeline explosion on the Trans Niger Pipeline in Bodo Community, Gokana Local Government Area. The blast, which occurred late Monday near the Bodo-Bonny Road, further deepened concerns over security in the oil-rich region.
In a national broadcast, Tinubu said the decision was unavoidable after the Governor and his Deputy failed to seek presidential intervention.
“No responsible President can stand by and allow such a grave situation to persist without taking constitutional remedial steps,” Tinubu stated.
Citing Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, he formally declared the state of emergency, effective March 18, 2025.
