Fubara Meets Tinubu As Rivers Crisis Eases

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has assured that peace has returned to the state after months of political turmoil that led to emergency rule.

He gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja after meeting President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa.

Fubara explained that his visit was to brief the president following the lifting of the six-month emergency rule that suspended his office and those of other state leaders. He noted that governance had resumed in an atmosphere of calm and cooperation, adding that he was committed to sustaining the peace alongside his predecessor and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.

Tinubu lifted the emergency on September 17, restoring full political authority to Rivers after a bitter feud between Fubara and Wike disrupted the state assembly and stalled governance. The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that Rivers lacked a functional government during the crisis, a situation that threatened the state’s oil economy.

While addressing journalists, Fubara acknowledged the heavy toll the crisis took on Rivers and said his focus now was rebuilding trust and reviving economic opportunities. He also used the occasion to lament the underutilisation of the Port Harcourt and Onne seaports, warning that Nigeria risks losing jobs and investments unless their capacities are fully harnessed.

At a separate meeting with the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) Board in Port Harcourt, the governor said world-class seaports drive prosperity in many countries, yet Rivers has not fully benefited from its own. He argued that if Onne Port operated at full capacity, industrial activity around Eleme, Tai and other nearby areas would transform the state economy.

Fubara pointed to poor federal roads leading to the ports as a major setback but promised that his administration would complement federal efforts by managing traffic, improving discipline among drivers and supporting security measures. He pledged to establish a new police station around the ports and warned against land encroachment that hampers development.

He linked rising insecurity to unemployment and argued that reviving port operations would reduce youth restiveness by providing genuine means of livelihood. He further assured that the state would work with the NPA to tackle flooding and drainage problems around the port access roads.

The governor commended the NPA for consulting the state before embarking on projects, saying such collaboration ensures community support. He pledged full backing to transform the ports into engines of growth rather than neglected facilities.

NPA Board Chairman, Senator Adeyeye Adedayo Clement, described Nigeria’s marine assets as vital for economic expansion and promised renewed commitment to reviving operations at the Port Harcourt and Onne ports. He sought state cooperation in rehabilitating access roads, improving cleanliness, curbing illegal truck parking and strengthening security around the facilities.