By Adedapo Adesanya

The suspended Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, has urged residents of the state to remain peaceful and law-abiding after President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency on the Niger Delta state on Tuesday night.

In a statement, the Governor called for calm as he engages with relevant institutions to ensure that the nation’s democracy remains strong.

Recall that President Tinubu yesterday declared a state of emergency on Rivers State, appointing retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas as the state’s administrator for an initial six-month period.

In a 12-paragraph statement by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Joe Johnson, the embattled Governor said he regretted the unfortunate moment in the state’s political history.

“Since assuming office as your Governor, all my actions and decisions have been guided by my constitutional oath of office and a great sense of duty. We prioritised the protection of lives and property and ensured the continuous progress of our dear state.

“Even in the face of the political impasse, we have remained committed to constitutional order and the rule of law, putting the interest of our people above all else.

“This was why, immediately after Mr President’s intervention to broker peace, we did not hesitate to implement the agreed terms in good faith, including welcoming back commissioners, who had previously resigned on their own volition.

“Furthermore, we moved swiftly to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgement and immediately we received the certified true copy of the judgement to return the state to normalcy. These steps were taken not for personal gains but to foster peace, unity and stability in our dear state,” he stated.

Mr Fubara explained that, “At every turn, members of the Rivers State House of Assembly frustrated our efforts, thus making genuine peace and progress difficult. Our priorities remained the security of lives and property and advancing the well-being and prosperity of Rivers people.”

According to Mr Fubara, “We have political disagreements, but good governance has continued, salaries have been paid, and great projects are being executed to move the state forward. Above all, Rivers State is safe, secure and peaceful under our watch.

“At this critical time, I urge all Rivers people to remain peaceful and law-abiding. We will engage with all relevant institutions to ensure that our democracy remains strong and that Rivers State continues to thrive.

“We have always been a resilient people, and we will face this situation with wisdom, patience, and unwavering faith in the democratic process.”

By Dipo Olowookere

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday night suspended the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, and the Rivers State House of Assembly, effectively declaring a state of emergency on the state.

In a broadcast today, Mr Tinubu said he took this decision as a result of recent developments in the state.

Mr Fubara has been at loggerheads with his predecessor, Mr Nyesom Wike, who is currently the Minister of FCT, over the control of the state, particularly the state parliament.

The action of the President came barely 24 hours after a pipeline was blown in Rivers State, with two suspects arrested by the police.

He has appointed Mr Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of affairs of Rivers State.

Below is the full text of President Tinubu’s broadcast;

Fellow Nigerians, I feel greatly disturbed at the turn we have come to regarding the political crisis in Rivers State. Like many of you, I have watched with concern the development with the hope that the parties involved would allow good sense to prevail at the soonest, but all that hope burned out without any solution to the crisis.  

With the crisis persisting, there is no way democratic governance, which we have all fought and worked for over the years, can thrive in a way that will redound to the benefit of the good people of the state.

The state has been at a standstill since the crisis started, with the good people of the state not being able to have access to the dividends of democracy. 

Also, it is public knowledge that the Governor of Rivers State for unjustifiable reasons, demolished the House of Assembly of the state as far back as 13th December 2023 and has, up until now, fourteen (14) months after, not rebuilt same.

I have made personal interventions between the contending parties for a peaceful resolution of the crisis, but my efforts have been largely ignored by the parties to the crisis.

I am also aware that many well-meaning Nigerians, Leaders of thought and Patriotic groups have also intervened at various times with the best of intentions to resolve the matter, but all their efforts were also to no avail. Still, I thank them.  

On February 28, 2025, the supreme court, in a judgment in respect of about eight consolidated appeals concerning the political crisis in Rivers State, based on several grave unconstitutional acts and disregard of rule of law that have been committed by the Governor of Rivers State as shown by the evidence before it pronounced in very clear terms: “a government cannot be said to exist without one of the three arms that make up the government of a state under the 1999 Constitution as amended. In this case the head of the executive arm of the government has chosen to collapse the legislature to enable him to govern without the legislature as a despot. As it is there is no government in Rivers State.” 

The above pronouncement came after a catalogue of judicial findings of constitutional breaches against the Governor Siminalayi Fubara. Going Forward in their judgment, and having found and held that 27 members of the House who had allegedly defected “are still valid members of Rivers State House of Assembly and cannot be prevented from participating in the proceedings of that House by the 8th Respondent (that is, the Governor) in cohorts with four members.” 

The Supreme Court then made some orders to restore the state to immediate constitutional democracy. These orders include the immediate passing of an Appropriation Bill by the Rivers State House of Assembly which up till now has not been facilitated.  Some militants had threatened fire and brimstone against their perceived enemy of the governor who has up till now NOT disowned them. 

Apart from that both the House and the governor have not been able to work together. 

Both of them do not realise that they are in office to work together for the peace and good governance of the state. 

The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militant without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course given stern order to the security agencies to ensure safety of lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines. 

With all these and many more, no good and responsible President will standby and allow the grave situation to continue without taking remedial steps prescribed by the Constitution to address the situation in the state, which no doubt requires extraordinary measures to restore good governance, peace, order and security. 

In the circumstance, having soberly reflected on and evaluated the political situation in Rivers State and the Governor and Deputy Governor of Rivers State having failed to make a request to me as President to issue this proclamation as required by section 305(5) of the 1999 Constitution as amended, it has become inevitably compelling for me to invoke the provision of section 305 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 as amended, to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State with effect from today, 18th March, 2025 and I so do. 

By this declaration, the Governor of Rivers State, Mr Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of Assembly of Rivers State are hereby suspended for an initial period of six months. 

In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State.

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. 

The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state. 

This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution.

It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole. 

Long live a united, peaceful, secure and democratic Rivers State in particular and the Federal Republic of Nigeria as a whole.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Shipping stakeholders under the aegis of the Shipping Agencies, Clearing and Forwarding Employers Association (SACFEA) have called on the federal government to urgently reduce taxes for shippers.

The group warned that exorbitant port charges are driving business away from Nigerian ports to neighbouring countries.

At a recent press conference in Lagos, SACFEA Chairman, Mrs Boma Alabi, highlighted that it now costs around $200,000 to berth an average cargo vessel in Nigeria, following a recent 15 per cent increase in marine service charges by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA).

She decried that this is in stark contrast to other countries, drawing examples that the same service costs just $15,000 at Ghana’s Tema Port, noting that Nigeria’s fees are 1,233 per cent higher in Ghana.

She added that this would force the hands of stakeholders to try cheaper alternative routes, cutting them out of the equation.

Mrs Alabi said that neighbouring ports, including those in Cotonou and Lome, offer significantly lower berthing charges, making Nigerian ports uncompetitive.

For example, she said berthing a vessel costs $26,000 in Lome (Togo), $27,000 in Cotonou (Benin Republic), $29,000 in Singapore, $21,000 in Shanghai, and $60,000 in Abidjan (Cote d’Ivoire).

The SACFEA chairman pointed out that smaller neighbouring countries have taken advantage of Nigeria’s high costs to attract cargoes originally destined for Nigerian ports.

She cited Terminal 3 at Ghana’s Tema Port, a dedicated container terminal with three berths capable of handling ships up to 366 meters in length and 16 meters draught – which processes 1.9 million Twenty Equivalent Units (TEUs) annually compared to Nigeria’s 1.2 million TEUs.

Mrs Alabi expressed concern that increased charges and indirect taxes are making Nigeria’s business environment hostile to investment.

She warned that no new factories or manufacturing companies are emerging while the unemployment rate continues to climb.

“We were not informed about the charges before the government implemented them,” Mrs Alabi said, adding that “The government should make ports competitive and attractive through reduced charges. Lower charges will increase cargo throughput, generating more revenue and creating jobs for the youth.”

She also listed multiple charges from government agencies, decaying quay aprons, congested port access roads, poor road conditions, and illegal tolls as factors contributing to the high cost of doing business at Nigerian seaports.