---
title: "Nigerian president declares state of emergency in oil-producing Rivers state"
description: "ABUJA, March 18 (Reuters) - Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in oil-producing Rivers State and moved to suspend the state governor, his deputy and all lawmakers."
type: "NewsArticle"
publisher: "Daily Maverick"
site: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za"
section: "Newsdeck"
author: "Reuters"
author_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/author/reuters/"
canonical_url: "https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2025-03-18-nigerian-president-declares-state-of-emergency-in-oil-producing-rivers-state/"
published: "2025-03-18T21:13:12"
updated: "2025-03-18T21:13:13"
lang: "en-ZA"
word_count: 135
---

# Nigerian president declares state of emergency in oil-producing Rivers state

> ABUJA, March 18 (Reuters) - Nigerian President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in oil-producing Rivers State and moved to suspend the state governor, his deputy and all lawmakers.

By Reuters · Published 18 March 2025, 23:13 SAST · Updated 18 March 2025, 23:13 SAST

## Key points
- In a political soap opera that could rival any reality show, Rivers State is caught in a power struggle as Tinubu sends in a retired vice admiral to steer the ship amidst threats of impeachment and a pipeline blast that adds a fiery twist to the drama.
- Rivers State faces a political crisis as factions within the opposition PDP threaten to impeach the governor and deputy.
- President Tinubu appoints a retired vice admiral as caretaker for an initial six-month term to stabilize the state.
- Tinubu clarifies that the declaration does not interfere with the judicial arm of Rivers State, which will continue its constitutional duties.
- Police are investigating a blast that ignited a fire on the Trans Niger Pipeline, crucial for transporting crude oil to the Bonny export terminal.

## Content

Rivers state had been embroiled in a political crisis pitting factions of the opposition People's Democratic Party (PDP) against each other. The state lawmakers had also threatened to impeach the governor and his deputy.

Tinubu nominated a retired vice admiral as caretaker to run the affairs of the state for an initial six months.

"For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate," said Tinubu.

Earlier on Tuesday, police said they were investigating the cause of a [blast in Rivers state](https://www.reutersconnect.com/all?search=all%3AS8N3OJ0EY&linkedFromStory=true) that resulted in a fire on the Nigeria's Trans Niger Pipeline, a major oil artery transporting crude from onshore oilfields to the Bonny export terminal.

(Reporting by Camillus Eboh, writing by MacDonald DzirutweEditing by Gareth Jones)