By Nathaniel Zacchaeus, Cross Udo, and Chukwudi Obasi, Abuja
The National Assembly unanimously approved President Bola Tinubu’s State of Emergency Proclamation on Tuesday for Rivers State.
The decision was taken at the Senate after about one and a half hours of closed session through voice votes put to senators by the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, based on resolutions adopted by federal lawmakers.
Similarly, the House of Representatives voted to support the declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State.
Speaking during yesterday’s plenary, Akpabio said, “The Senate invokes the powers conveyed to it by Section 305 of Section 2 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) and approves the proclamation of the state of emergency declared by Mr President in Rivers State of Nigeria.
“The Senate further directs that the declaration of the state of emergency stated in the proclamation documents demands that Mr President review and even terminate the state of emergency at any given time, but not later than six months.
“The Senate further resolved that Section 11, Subsection 4 be invoked, providing the National Assembly the authority to set up a joint ad hoc committee of both chambers to oversee the administration of Rivers State henceforth.
“The Senate further resolved that a Committee of eminent Nigerians be set up to reconcile the warring groups within the government of River State within the period of the State of Emergency in River State.
“The Senate further resolved that a Committee of eminent Nigerians to reconcile the warring factions in Rivers State should be set up and carry out their action during the emergency.
“For final ratification, I put it to the Senate that those in favour of the state of emergency 2025 proclamation in Rivers State, which all the senators in the chamber affirmatively responded to.
Akpabio said, “This approval is done unanimously without a single nay. Therefore, under section 60 of the constitution, section 305 (2), and under our rules, Rule 1 (b) of the standing orders of the Senate, and also under Rules 133, 134, 135, and 136 of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the State of Emergency Proclamation in Rivers State was approved, and other vital resolutions were taken.”
Thereafter, the Senate adjourned for one hour, reconvened later to pass votes and proceedings of the entire session and finally adjourned to Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Before the Senate went into a closed-door session, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and Senator Seriake Dickson (PDP Bayelsa West) had a mild altercation.
The altercation began when Senator Dickson raised a point of Order after Akpabio read a written gazette on the Proclamation of State of Emergency to Senators and called on the Senate Leader to guide the Senate for its expeditious consideration.
As Senator Dickson raised the point of Order, Akpabio told him to sit down. He had already known where he stood on the State of Emergency, having watched him on Television on Wednesday when he said his views would not align with those of the Senate.
“Senator Dickson, please hold on with your point of order. I heard all that you said on the television yesterday that the Senate will not go with you on the issue at hand, and we will not go with you.
“You are a former governor like myself and now a distinguished Federal Republic of Nigeria Senator. Please, let’s do things in the interest of Nigerians,” he said.
However, when finally allowed to raise the point of order, Seriake Dickson drew the Senate’s attention to Orders 133 of the Senate Standing Rules, which required matters of state of emergency to be deliberated upon in closed-door session.
Akpabio, upon hearing that, upheld his point of order, which was later held by the Senate, where all its resolutions were taken on the state of emergency.
In the House of Representatives, the Speaker, Tajudeen Abbas, presided over the plenary, which had 240 lawmakers in attendance.
However, the House has made some amendments to the proclamation.
These include the setting up of a committee of eminent Nigerians to mediate on the matter during the period of emergency,
It also drew attention to the Constitutional provision that allows the National Assembly to make laws for a state if the state assembly is unable to perform its functions at any time, disagreeing with Tinubu’s position that the Federal Executive Council (FEC) would usurp this function.
The House of Representatives also said the state of emergency could be reviewed and terminated within the initial six months, as proclaimed, based on progress made about peace.
He cited, “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.”
*Tinubu insists crisis threatened critical oil, gas assets
President Bola Tinubu has commended the National Assembly for “its decisive and patriotic ratification of the State of Emergency proclamation in Rivers State,” a critical step to restoring stability after a protracted political crisis that paralyzed governance in the state and endangered national economic security for over 15 months.
The President specifically commended the leadership and members of the National Assembly “for prioritising the security and welfare of Rivers State people above partisan interests and other considerations.”
A statement by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, said the President “further acknowledged the lawmakers’ diligent review of classified security briefings, underscoring the urgent need for intervention to prevent further escalation.”
According to the statement, “The crisis in Rivers State was at a perilous tipping point, threatening the security of vital oil and gas installations and undermining the national economy and the significant progress we have made in the reforms initiated since our administration commenced in May 2023.
“As I detailed in my address to the nation on March 18, the near-total collapse of governance, threats to federal economic assets, and the risk of widespread violence left no room for hesitation. This emergency measure is a lifeline to safeguard livelihoods, secure critical infrastructure, and restore democratic accountability.”
The President affirmed that the six-month emergency would empower the newly-appointed Sole Administrator to stabilize Rivers State, address systemic breakdowns, and facilitate dialogue among conflicting parties.
President Tinubu also reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to deepening collaboration with the National Assembly to advance peace, economic resilience, and equitable development across Nigeria.
“Today’s decision exemplifies what our nation can achieve when unity of purpose and patriotism guide the action of leaders. We remain steadfast in pursuing a safer, more prosperous Nigeria—one where every citizen’s potential is safeguarded and nurtured,” he said.
He thanked all Nigerians for their understanding and urged all stakeholders to support restoring peace in Rivers State.
*Rivers Administrator resumes duty, sues for peace
The Rivers Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), assumed duty in the state yesterday.
Ibas, in an interview with journalists yesterday in Government House, Port Harcourt, said he would meet with the Head of Service, Permanent Secretaries, and Service Commanders to receive formal briefings.
Responding to his reception by Rivers people upon his arrival at the airport, Ibas said that Port Harcourt had always been his city, and everything appeared calm despite the current political situation.
He stated that Port Harcourt City would return to where it had always been.
He commended journalists in the state for their work and assured them he would address the press later.
