By Isaac Anyaogu

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu looks on as he meets with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa on the day of the 11th Bi-National Commission between the two countries at Tuynhuys, in Cape Town, South Africa, December 3, 2024.REUTERS/Esa Alexander/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights , opens new tab

LAGOS, Sept 17 (Reuters) – Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday lifted a six-month emergency rule in Rivers State, reinstating Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other officials, after saying that a constitutional crisis that had paralysed governance had been resolved.

The emergency rule, imposed on March 18, followed a standoff between Fubara and the state legislature that disrupted budget approvals and left the government in limbo. Tinubu said the measure was necessary to prevent anarchy.

Rivers State, located in the oil-producing Niger Delta, is an important hub for Nigeria’s crude exports. Militants have previously targeted pipelines in the region, affecting output and revenue.

Tinubu said intelligence reports showed a “groundswell of a new spirit of understanding” among political stakeholders, paving the way for a return to democratic governance. The governor, his deputy, and the 31-member House of Assembly are expected to resume duties on September 18.

The emergency declaration triggered more than 40 legal challenges in courts across Abuja, Port Harcourt and Yenagoa. Tinubu defended the move as a constitutional tool to restore order, saying dissent was part of democratic practice.

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. , opens new tab

Suggested Topics:

Read Next

The Israeli military said it was opening an additional route for 48 hours that Palestinians could use to leave Gaza City as it stepped up efforts on Wednesday to empty the city of civilians and confront thousands of Hamas combatants.

Site Index

About Reuters

Stay Informed

Information you can trust

Reuters, the news and media division of Thomson Reuters, is the world’s largest multimedia news provider, reaching billions of people worldwide every day. Reuters provides business, financial, national and international news to professionals via desktop terminals, the world’s media organizations, industry events and directly to consumers.

Read More