LAGOS, Nigeria

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu declared a state of emergency Tuesday in the oil-rich region of Rivers State following a prolonged political crisis and governance paralysis.

Tinubu said during a nationwide broadcast that he suspended Gov. Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and all elected members from the state who are in the House of Assembly for six months.

“The latest security reports made available to me show that between yesterday and today, there have been disturbing incidents of vandalization of pipelines by some militants without the governor taking any action to curtail them. I have, of course, given stern orders to the security agencies to ensure the safety of the lives of the good people of Rivers State and the oil pipelines,” he said.

The situation in Rivers State has been volatile, with the governor accused of gross misconduct, including spending public funds contrary to the Constitution and hindering the state's House of Assembly from performing its duties.

Before Tinubu's address, the assembly had announced an indefinite recess, preventing Fubara from presenting the 2025 budget.

Tinubu's declaration is based on a section of the constitution that interprets a state of emergency as a situation of national danger or disaster.

The president has nominated retired Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas as administrator to take charge of the state's affairs during the six-month period.