President Bola Ahmed Tinubu convened with Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd), the Administrator overseeing Rivers State, at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, ahead of the scheduled end to the six-month emergency governance on September 18. Suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara is slated to resume his position following the termination of this special administration.
Although no official briefing was released regarding the discussions, insiders indicate they involved strategic planning for the state’s transition back to civilian rule.
Recall early this year, about six months ago, Dawn Herald exclusively reported how President Bola Ahmad Tinubu invoked Section 305 of the 1999 Constitution to impose the exceptional measure, suspending Governor Fubara, his deputy Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months to preserve peace and prevent administrative collapse.
Vice Admiral Ibas, a former Chief of Naval Staff, was appointed to supervise governance during the emergency, tasked with restoring stability and ensuring seamless administrative operations throughout the period.
Yesterday, the President departed Abuja to begin a 10-day working holiday in Europe, dividing his stay between France and the United Kingdom, as officially communicated by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Tinubu’s recent activities include reforms aimed at boosting Nigeria’s economy, such as expanding the tax base and digitizing compliance processes. These efforts have led to a remarkable 40.5% surge in non-oil revenue, with government collections totaling N20.59 trillion from January to August 2025.
Further, the President mandated mandatory health insurance coverage for all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies, balancing worker protections with business considerations as the regulation takes effect.
On the diplomatic front, Tinubu achieved notable breakthroughs during his August visit to Brazil, securing agreements spanning aviation, trade, and scientific collaboration. This visit also facilitated Petrobras’s anticipated return to Nigeria’s energy sector and saw Air Peace launch direct Lagos-São Paulo flights.
Prior to Brazil, he attended the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD9) in Japan and strengthened ties with South-South partners through visits to Saint Lucia and Brazil earlier in the year.
The Financial Times has characterized Tinubu’s reform agenda as “shock therapy” stabilizing the Nigerian economy and restoring investor confidence, a sentiment by international institutions that are increasingly recognizing Nigeria’s positive economic trajectory.
Focus turns to reinstating democratic leadership in Rivers State, as the emergency administration reaches its endpoint on September 18. The President, currently on a working leave abroad, is unlikely to return before the emergency period expires.
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