“We Are Working on a New Budget for Rivers,” Says Sole Administrator Ibok-Ete Ibas

Rivers State is set to introduce a new budget for 2025, according to Ibok-Ete Ibas, the state’s sole administrator. Speaking on Thursday during a meeting with members of the Rivers caucus in the national assembly at the Government House in Port Harcourt, Ibas confirmed that the new budget will prioritize education, healthcare, social services, and infrastructure. He emphasized that in addition to ongoing peace-building initiatives, the focus would be on ensuring economic stability and development for the state.

Ibas explained that the new budget was crafted in response to the Supreme Court ruling on the state’s budget, which prompted the state government to swiftly revise its financial plans. He assured that the process had been transparent, inclusive, and expedited to ensure no further delays in critical investments that would benefit the citizens of Rivers. He also highlighted the importance of cooperation between the state government and national lawmakers in maintaining progress and peace in Rivers.

The meeting was attended by a delegation led by Senator Barinada Mpigi, representing Rivers South-East, and included key members of the House of Representatives from Rivers State, such as Allwell Onyesoh, Kingsley Chinda, Dumnamene Dekor, Solomon Bob, Cyril Godwin Hart, Blessing Amadi, Felix Nwaeke, Kelechi Nwogu, and Victor Obuzor. Mpigi reiterated the national assembly’s commitment to supporting all peace and development efforts in the state.

The ongoing budget crisis in Rivers dates back to 2023 when the state’s House of Assembly was divided into two factions. In December 2023, the then governor Siminalayi Fubara presented an N800 billion budget estimate for 2024, which was signed into law within a day by the state’s house of assembly. However, in January 2024, the Federal High Court in Abuja voided the budget’s passage, blocking the release of the state’s statutory allocations. The court’s decision was later upheld by the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court.

In response to the political instability, President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers in March, suspending Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Ngozi Odu, and all members of the state assembly. Ibas was appointed as the state’s sole administrator, tasked with steering the state through its challenges. Last month, Ibas confirmed that the withheld federal allocations had been released to the state.