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Nigeria Declares Emergency Rule in Rivers State, Suspends Governor and Lawmakers

President Bola Tinubu cites political paralysis and pipeline vandalism as reasons for the unprecedented suspension of elected officials in the oil-rich region.

Nigeria's Rivers State is rich in oil, which has brought wealth but also conflict and environmental degradation
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Overview

  • President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara and all state lawmakers for six months.
  • The emergency was prompted by escalating political tensions and a recent explosion on the Trans Niger Pipeline, suspected to be caused by vandalism.
  • Former navy chief Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas has been appointed as the military administrator to oversee the state's affairs during the emergency period.
  • The Nigerian Bar Association criticized the suspension of elected officials as unconstitutional, arguing it exceeds the provisions of emergency rule in the Nigerian Constitution.
  • Rivers State, a key oil-producing region, has faced longstanding issues of militant activity, oil theft, and political instability, exacerbating economic and security challenges for Nigeria.