Rivers State Administrator, Vice Admiral (Rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ibas, on June 11, recounted the arduous process of preparing the proposed N1.48 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State. He alleged that certain Rivers State government officials withheld crucial information, impeding the comprehensive capture of expenditures undertaken by the suspended administration of Governor Siminialaye Fubara under the 2024 Appropriation Act.
Addressing the House Special Committee overseeing the emergency rule in Rivers State regarding the 2025 Budget, Administrator Ibas conveyed his concern over the available records concerning last year’s budget performance. He stated that, in accordance with Section 11, Subsection 4 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and the Supreme Court’s pronouncement on Rivers State’s 2025 Appropriation, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had requested a new budget proposal for the state.
“I subsequently submitted a proposal to Mr. President which he graciously transmitted to the National Assembly for consideration. Furthermore, we received a correspondence from this distinguished committee, requesting for more information on the budget proposal,” Ibas explained. He added, “I am pleased to inform the committee that we have largely compiled and transmitted the requested information on the proposed 2025 Budget.”
A Budget for Transformation Amidst Fiscal Concerns
Administrator Ibas emphasized that the proposed 2025 Rivers State Budget is meticulously aligned with the strategic objectives outlined in the Rivers State Development Plan 2017-2027. He described the budget as “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 expressed optimism that its implementation would yield substantial socioeconomic benefits for the people of Rivers State.
Despite this forward-looking posture, Ibas highlighted significant discrepancies in the 2024 budget performance records. “While the records available to me on the 2024 budget and its actual performance remain a source of concern, a quick review of the official records for the 2024 budget shows that the total revenue of the River State government was N1.04 trillion compared to a target of N800.39 billion. This represents N250 billion (or 31.6%) above the budget target.”
However, he noted that “on the expenditure side, official performance report shows total expenditure was N740.74 billion, which was N52.7 billion or 6.7% less than the spending target which in my well-considered opinion, the expenditures are clearly understated.”
For the 2025 fiscal year, the total projected revenue stands at N1.4 trillion, with N597.14 billion already received as of May, representing only a four percent deviation from projections. The total planned expenditure for 2025 is N1.48 trillion.
Navigating Fiscal Credibility and Future Prospects
Administrator Ibas explained that the 2025 budget proposal was “meticulously designed to account for unregularized expenditures already undertaken during the first quarter of the fiscal year by the suspended administration before the state of emergency declaration by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.” He reiterated concerns about the deliberate withholding of critical information by “some state officials” during the budget’s submission, which hampered a complete capture of those expenditures.
Nonetheless, he assured the committee that the budget framework integrates all available expenditure information to “ratify the first quarter expenditures within a lawful and transparent structure,” ensuring alignment with statutory appropriation protocols and safeguarding public finance management integrity. Furthermore, he confirmed that the draft budget prudently retains provisions for the offices and functions of suspended political actors, “in anticipation of the eventual return to constitutional order.”
The 2025 budget prioritizes critical infrastructure, allocating a record N324.51 billion to high-impact roads, bridges, and transport networks to enhance connectivity and stimulate economic activity. This includes N38.85 billion for shoreline protection, land reclamation, and erosion control, vital for environmental resilience.
In the agricultural sector, the budget commits N4.5 billion as a counterpart fund for rural access and agricultural markets programs, potentially unlocking N45 billion for rural farm access. An additional N10 billion is earmarked for food security initiatives focusing on scaling up local production of rice, cassava, oil palm, maize, poultry, and coconut. Investments of N3.5 billion are also planned for agricultural mechanization, projected to generate over 16,000 direct and indirect jobs within two years.
Substantial Investments in Health, Education, and Social Development
The health sector receives substantial investments, including N55 billion for the relocation and expansion of the Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, N50 billion for zonal hospitals upgrades, and N5 billion for a drug revolving fund to strengthen essential medicine supply systems.
The education sector will benefit from targeted investments of N30 billion for zonal secondary schools and N5.75 billion for primary schools rehabilitation, alongside initiatives for inclusive education. The budget also demonstrates a strong commitment to gender equity and youth development, with N2.5 billion dedicated to women’s economic empowerment and N3 billion for a youth resource center focused on capacity building, innovation, and enterprise development.
Administrator Ibas concluded that the budget reflects “a comprehensive people-oriented, people-centered approach to governance with targeted investments across housing, environmental protection, public administration, financial inclusion, and security.”
Committee’s Commitment to Rivers State’s Future
Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, Chairman of the House Special Committee and House Leader, reiterated the panel’s unwavering commitment to collaborating with the Administrator to restore stability, peace, growth, and development in Rivers State.
Ihonvbere lauded Rivers State as “always been a shining example of what is possible with good leadership,” and assured a thorough scrutiny of the budget. He emphasized the committee’s readiness to work hand-in-hand with the Administrator to ensure Rivers State’s swift return to normalcy, pledging, “the committee will not cut corners. We are going to do the job as we would normally do it for the Federal Republic of Nigeria. That way we will be helping you, we will be helping ourselves, and we will be helping the country.”
