The Federal Government announced on Wednesday that the allocation for Rivers State will be handed over to the state’s Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok Ibas (retd.).
The government also emphasised that President Bola Tinubu’s decision to declare a state of emergency in Rivers State was timely and essential to prevent the state from descending into chaos.
Additionally, the Federal Government clarified that former Governor of Rivers State and current Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, played no part in the political crisis in the state that led to the state of emergency declaration.
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, made the statement while addressing State House correspondents at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.
When asked whether the Federal Government would release the allocation from the federation account to the state, the Minister confirmed that the funds would be made available to the Administrator upon request.
“It would be appropriate for the funds to be released given the extraordinary circumstances surrounding the situation,” Fagbemi said.
The AGF also justified President Tinubu’s decision, stressing the necessity of timely intervention.
“We are nearly two years into the administration in the state. At what point should the President have stepped in? Should it have been after everything had collapsed? I don’t think so. The President acted swiftly and has given all parties involved the chance to resolve the situation. Prior to this, he had tried mediation,” he explained.
President Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State on Tuesday, suspending Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for an initial period of six months.