Rivers’s Budget Rises to N1.846tn as Ibas Appears Before Senate, Defends Estimates

‘How state officials withheld information on Q1 expenditure by Fubara’

By James Adamu

The 2025 budget of Rivers State has risen to N1.846trillion.

The new figure is up by over N365bn from the initial estimates of N1.481tn President Bola Tinubu forwarded to the Senate in May.

The Sole Administrator of the state, Admiral Ibok Ekwe Ibas (retd.), gave the updated estimates as he appeared before the Senate AdHoc Committee on Implementation of Emergency Rule in Rivers State to defend the budget.

The committee is chaired by Senate Leader, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele.

Ibas told senators that the new estimates resulted from the receipt of additional information on the first quarter expenditure, bringing the total “revenue projected expenditure” to N1.846tn.

He complained that state officials tried to frustrate the budget process by withholding vital information on the first quarter of the year, a period when the suspended governor of the state, Mr Sim Fubara, was in charge of affairs.

“However, the budget proposal presents an integrated framework to strengthen revenue mobilisation, accelerate infrastructure delivery, enhance human capital, and promote inclusive economic growth”, he said, adding that care was taken to “account for and regularise expenditure already undertaken” by the Fubara administration in Q1.

Ibas also spoke on the emergency rule, disclosing that provisions were made in the budget to accommodate the cost of running the offices of suspended political office holders as they return to work at the expiration of the emergency period.

“Additionally, in anticipation of eventual return to constitutional order, the draft budget prudently retains permissions for the offices and functions of suspended political actors, some of whom have already drawn on allocated resources in the first quarter and are expected to resume their duties at the expiration of the emergency period”, he stated.

Ibas said the budget made elaborate provisions to tackle security challenges, which he considered to be among the major worries in the state, such as cultism, kidnapping, communal crises, and attacks on installations.

He explained some of the provisions, “With a record allocation of N324.51 billion to direct critical fiscal infrastructure, the administration is prioritizing completing high-impact roads, bridges, and transport networks to improve connectivity, facilitate commerce, and stimulate economic activities across rural and urban areas. This also includes the $38.85 billion allocated for shoreline protection, land reclamation, and erosion control, supporting long-term environmental resilience and disaster mitigation efforts.

“In the agricultural sector, the budget aligns with Nigeria’s broader food security goals. Through the N4.5 billion counterpart funds for the Rural Access and Agricultural Marketing Programme, to unlock about N45 billion to open up rural access to farms and markets, N10 billion for food security, an initiative aimed at catalysing the scale of local production in rice, cassava, and oil palm.

“There is also a provision for N3.5 billion for investments in agricultural modernisation to boost food production. These interventions are projected to generate over 16,000 direct and indirect jobs within two years, if sustained.

“Health sector investments are equally substantial, including N55 billion for the relocation and expansion of the River State University Teaching Hospital, N50 billion for zonal hospital upgrades, and N5.0 billion for a drug-involving fund to strengthen essential medicine supply systems.

“The education sector receives targeted investments of N30 billion for zonal secondary schools and N5.75 billion for primary schools rehabilitation, in addition to the N1.5 billion in special schools to support our initiatives for inclusive education.

“The budget also demonstrates a strong commitment to gender equality and youth development, with N2.5 billion dedicated to women’s economic empowerment and N3 billion for the establishment of a youth resource center aimed at capacity building, innovation, and enterprise development.

“Furthermore, the budget reflects a comprehensive people-centered approach to governance, with targeted investments across housing, environmental protection, public administration, financial inclusion, and security. The state has amassed N25 billion for intervention in housing schemes to expand access to homes for middle-income families, alongside the rehabilitation of state-owned estates to address urban congestion, improve living conditions, and further stimulate the construction sector, with an attendant impact on job creation. Environmental resilience is a top priority, with significant provisions for flood mitigation and waterway rehabilitation.
These interventions, if implemented, will reduce displacement in riverline communities and safeguard vital ecosystems amid rising climate risk.

“In public administration, the budget commits over N117 billion to pensions, gratuities, and employee benefits, marking a decisive shift towards restoring dignity and welfare in the civil service. This includes a N50 billion provision to begin to address the longstanding issues around pensions and gratuity areas owed to retirees in river states.

“Notably, the implementation of the Employee Compensation Act and a new group-led insurance scheme reflects global best practices in labor protection. The state also plans to inject N20 billion into the recapitalization of the River State Microfinance Bank, aimed at empowering micro-, small- and medium-end enterprises and underserved populations, especially youth and women, with improved access to affordable credit. These measures support inclusive economic growth and grassroots development.”

Ibas and members of the committee later went into a closed-door session where the details of the budget were examined.

At the resumed open session Sen. Bamidele told Senate Correspondents that lawmakers were particularly impressed by the fact that around 70% of the expenditure went on capital projects.

He said, “In addition, at least 85% of the budget was drawn up by the administration of Fubara. Only additional projects of 15% were introduced by the administrator.

“N50bn was injected to pay pensions and liability as part of the peace building process.

“Over 70% of the budget is going for capital projects, which is commendable. We recommend this budgeting model to all our state governments.”