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Rivers 2025 budget: Ibas attribute plans for Fubara’s return
The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, retired Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas, has revealed that the proposed N1.48tn 2025 budget anticipates the return of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other affected political officeholders.
Ibas made this known in Abuja on Wednesday while defending the budget before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight.
According to him, the proposed budget aligns with the strategic objectives of the River State Development Plan 2017-2027.
He also noted that the proposal presents a strategic and integrated framework designed to raise revenues and accelerate infrastructure development, enhance human capital, and promote inclusive economic growth across all sectors.
He said, “In anticipation of the eventual return to constitutional order, the draft budget prudently retains provisions for the offices and functions of suspended political actors, some of whom have already drawn on allocated resources in the first quarter and are expected to resume their duties at the expiration of the emergency period.
”He, however, accused some suspected Rivers State officials of failure to provide the administration with useful information required to prepare the budget proposal.
Ibas added, “Regrettably, some state officials withheld critical information required to ensure a more complete capture of those expenditures at the time of submission of the budget estimates.
“However, recognising the exigencies under the state of emergency and the need to ensure fiscal credibility, the budget framework integrates expenditure information made available before the submission of the budget proposal to ratify the first quarter expenditures in a lawful and transparent structure.
“This ensures alignment with statutory appropriation protocols while safeguarding the integrity of public finance management.
”The budget, totalling ₦1.48tn in expenditure with a projected ₦1.4tn in revenue, was transmitted to the National Assembly following presidential approval after the Supreme Court ruled on the legality of the Rivers State 2025 appropriation process.
In his opening remarks, Ibas thanked the committee for its dedication.
“We in Rivers State are most grateful for your commitment. Despite your tight schedules, you have shown unwavering resolve to fulfil your constitutional duties,” he said.
Ibas highlighted several major allocations including ₦324.50bn for infrastructure and transportation projects; ₦55bn to relocate and expand Rivers State University Teaching Hospital; ₦50bn for zonal hospital upgrades; ₦38.85bn for shoreline protection and erosion control; ₦30bn for zonal secondary schools and ₦5.75bn for primary school rehabilitation.
Others are ₦2.5bn for women’s economic empowerment and ₦3bn for youth resource centres; ₦20bn to recapitalise Rivers State Microfinance Bank for Medium and Small Scale Enterprises support, and ₦117bn in pension, gratuities, and employee benefits.
Responding, the Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Rivers State oversight, Prof Julius Ihonvbere, commended Ibas for the detailed presentation and affirmed the committee’s readiness to partner with the administrator in restoring peace and development to Rivers State.
He also pledged the committee’s readiness to scrutinise the budget estimate in the interest of the oil-rich state and its people.
Ihonvbere said, “I want to especially thank you and let you know that this committee is committed to working with you to restore stability, peace, growth, and development in Rivers State.
“Rivers has always been a shining example of what is possible with good leadership, and that is why this commitment is here.
“We will scrutinise the budget. We will invite you to send your relevant officials for a proper defence of the budget. In as much as we are committed to joining hands with you to get Rivers State back on track, we are not going to cut corners.
”Ihonvbere, who doubles as the House Majority Leader, also highlighted key social welfare components in the budget, such as women’s empowerment and pensions for retirees, describing them as necessary and people-centred interventions.
“These are areas that touch people’s lives, and we know the plight of their families. We appreciate you for making these bold commitments,” he added.
News
147 Lagos Structures to Face Impact From Coastal Highway
President Bola Tinubu says 147 structures in Lagos will be affected by the construction of a service lane along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Five of the structures are expected to face full demolition, while the remaining 142 will experience minimal impact.
Tinubu disclosed this Sunday at a stakeholder engagement in Lagos, where he also flagged off repairs of the Eko and Marine bridges and a flooded section of the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway.
Represented by Lagos Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the president assured affected property owners that they would receive compensation where necessary.
Tinubu said the stakeholder engagement was designed to secure public support and ensure the effective implementation of the projects.
He described the Eko Bridge as one of the oldest bridges built after Nigeria’s independence, while noting that the Marine Bridge provides an important link to Lagos seaports.
The president urged Lagos residents and other stakeholders to support infrastructure projects designed to improve transportation and economic activity.
The figure of 147 affected structures was presented by a representative of the AEC consortium during the engagement.
Some of the affected residents and stakeholders asked some questions on areas of compensation and impact.
Tinubu said the Federal Government remains open to constructive criticism but urged stakeholders to support projects that are properly executed.
He said the projects are intended to deliver infrastructure that will serve Lagos residents and Nigerians for generations.
News
Tinubu Flags Off Eko, Marine Bridge Repairs
President Bola Tinubu has flagged off repairs of the Eko and Marine bridges in Lagos, as part of Federal Government efforts to improve critical infrastructure and ease traffic along the Lagos corridor.
Tinubu, represented by Lagos Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, spoke Sunday at a stakeholder engagement on the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway.
Sanwo-Olu said the president remains committed to infrastructure development, security and job creation under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The governor also said more than 200 kilometers of the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway had been constructed across various sections within two years.
He said additional slip roads and improved drainage links to the Lagos Lagoon would be introduced to ease movement and reduce flooding.
Works Minister David Umahi, meanwhile, condemned the vandalism of public infrastructure, describing it as “devilish,” “wicked” and unacceptable.
Umahi urged Nigerians to protect government assets, warning that vandalism could undermine the benefits of major infrastructure projects.
His comments followed the recent vandalism of sections of the newly constructed Festac-Alakija Bridge. Lagos authorities have arrested 27 suspects over the incident.
Umahi also ordered a crackdown on unauthorized activities along the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, directing officials to stop motorcycles, tricycles, hawkers and loitering on the route.
The minister also called for stronger security around strategic infrastructure.
The 750-kilometer, 10-lane Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway is designed to connect Lagos with Cross River through seven coastal states, with the Federal Government expecting it to improve transportation and boost economic activity
News
ICPC: Adeyemi’s fake letter not from Presidency
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has confirmed that Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew was never appointed by the Federal Government and that the so-called Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council (PFIPC) was a fictitious entity.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Saturday, ICPC Chairman Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, disclosed the findings of the agency’s 30-day probe ordered by President Bola Tinubu on 7 July 2026.
“Recall the President on 7th July, 2026 gave ICPC 30 days to investigate into the fake Presidential Foreign Investment Promotion Council and today is exactly 30 days. I have just submitted the interim report and briefed Mr. President accordingly,” Aliyu said.
He stated that the President, in the spirit of transparency and accountability, directed him to address the media for the benefit of Nigerians.
According to the interim report:
- Adeniyi Adeyemi Mathew was never appointed by the Federal Government or any authority of government.
- The PFIPC was never established by any law, executive order or other valid instrument of government.
- The appointment letter presented by Adeyemi was completely forged, along with similar documents used to sustain the illegal activities of the fake agency.
- The PFIPC cannibalised the former Presidential Economic Advisory Council (PEAC) and illegally appropriated offices and instruments of operation.
- False projection, false representation, widespread impersonation and a range of illegal activities were perpetrated by Adeyemi as the purported Director-General.
- Weaknesses in verification, inter-agency oversight and government processes were exploited by Adeyemi, with some level of negligence and connivance.
- No funds of the Federal Government were approved or disbursed to the fake PFIPC/PEAC.
Aliyu emphasised that no weaknesses were found in the systems of the State House or the Central Bank of Nigeria, describing their processes as above board. He specifically noted that the fake appointment letter did not originate from the Presidency.
The ICPC further discovered that Adeyemi created two additional fictitious government agencies — the FCT Investment Promotion Agency (FIFA) and the Foreign Investment Promotion Agency and Public Private Partnership (FIFA-PPP). To facilitate their creation, he forged legislative instruments styled as Enabling Acts, which were used to support the opening of bank accounts.
Among the recommendations in the interim report are that Adeyemi should be fully prosecuted, administrative sanctions should be imposed on public officers whose acts of omission and negligence facilitated the illegal operations, and institutional reforms should be implemented.
Aliyu disclosed that investigations are ongoing into all activities and bank accounts linked to the PFIPC, Adeyemi and his collaborators.
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