Reps Give Rivers Govt 48-Hour Deadline on ₦1.48tn Budget

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The House of Representatives has given the Rivers State Government a 48-hour deadline to explain several controversial items in its 2025 ₦1.48 trillion budget.

The House Ad-hoc Committee on Oversight of Rivers State, chaired by House Leader Professor Julius Ihonvbere, raised concerns during a budget defence session in Abuja on Monday.

Lawmakers queried allocations including:

* ₦24 billion for CCTV installation at the State Government House

* ₦30 billion for gunboat procurement

* ₦23 billion for a contingency fund with no clear breakdown

The Committee is also demanding documents on federal allocations, internally generated revenue (IGR), management of local government funds, and a defence agreement referenced during the presentation.

According to a statement on Monday by the House spokesperson, Akin Rotimi, Professor Ihonvbere says the legislature is committed to transparency and protecting public interest, especially during the current emergency administration in Rivers State.

Responding on behalf of the Sole Administrator, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, Special Adviser Andrew Nweke defends the budget, saying many items were inherited and based on security and infrastructure needs.

He assures lawmakers that all requested documents would be submitted within the deadline.

Rivers State has been under emergency rule since March 2025, when President Bola Tinubu intervened to resolve a political crisis in the state.

The National Assembly has since assumed legislative responsibilities under constitutional emergency powers.