The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), has revealed that the proposed ₦1.48 trillion 2025 budget strategically plans for the anticipated return of suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara and other political officeholders currently under suspension.
Speaking in Abuja on Wednesday while presenting the budget before the House of Representatives Ad-Hoc Committee on Rivers State Oversight, Ibas emphasized that the budget aligns closely with the Rivers State Development Plan (2017-2027), aiming to drive inclusive economic growth, accelerate infrastructure development, and boost human capital across all sectors.
“In preparation for the eventual restoration of constitutional governance, the draft budget prudently maintains provisions for the offices and functions of suspended political actors, some of whom have already utilized allocated resources during the first quarter and are expected to resume their duties after the emergency period,” Ibas explained.
However, Ibas also raised concerns about certain state officials withholding crucial financial information needed to finalize the budget, saying, “Regrettably, some state officials failed to provide key expenditure data necessary for a comprehensive budget proposal.”
Despite these challenges, he assured that the budget framework incorporates all available data to legitimize first-quarter expenditures within a transparent, statutory-compliant fiscal structure that safeguards public financial integrity.
The ₦1.48 trillion expenditure plan, with a projected revenue of ₦1.4 trillion, follows presidential approval and the Supreme Court’s ruling on the legality of the Rivers State 2025 appropriation process. It was formally submitted to the National Assembly for consideration.
Key allocations highlighted by Ibas include ₦324.5 billion for infrastructure and transportation projects; ₦55 billion dedicated to relocating and expanding Rivers State University Teaching Hospital; ₦50 billion earmarked for zonal hospital upgrades; ₦38.85 billion for shoreline protection and erosion control; ₦30 billion for zonal secondary school improvements; and ₦5.75 billion for primary school rehabilitation.
Social welfare initiatives also featured prominently, with ₦2.5 billion set aside for women’s economic empowerment, ₦3 billion for youth resource centers, and ₦20 billion allocated to recapitalize the Rivers State Microfinance Bank to support micro, small, and medium enterprises. Additionally, ₦117 billion has been budgeted for pensions, gratuities, and employee benefits.
In response, the Chairman of the House Committee on Rivers State Oversight, Professor Julius Ihonvbere, lauded Ibas’s comprehensive presentation and expressed the committee’s firm commitment to collaborating in the restoration of peace, stability, and progress in the oil-rich state.
The House Majority Leader further underscored the importance of the budget’s social interventions, praising the focus on women’s empowerment and pensioners as vital, people-centered investments.
