President Bola Tinubu has announced the end of the six-month state of emergency imposed on Rivers State, paving the way for Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the State House of Assembly to return to office from Thursday, September 18, 2025.
The announcement was contained in a statement released on Wednesday by the Presidency.
Tinubu explained that the emergency rule, first declared on March 18, 2025, became necessary to address what he described as the “total paralysis of governance” in the state.
He recalled that a bitter conflict between the governor and 27 lawmakers loyal to the House Speaker had crippled the machinery of government, noting that “the Supreme Court even affirmed in one of its rulings that there was no government in Rivers State.”
“It therefore gives me great pleasure to declare that the emergency in Rivers State of Nigeria shall end with effect from midnight today,” Tinubu said.
He further added: “The Governor, His Excellency Siminalayi Fubara, the deputy governor, Her Excellency Ngozi Nma Odu, and members of the Rivers State House of Assembly and the speaker, Martins Amaewhule, will resume work in their offices from 18 September 2025.”
