Reps Committee Grills Rivers Sole Administrator Over ₦1.48 Trillion Budget, Issues 48-Hour Ultimatum

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Oversight of Rivers State has raised serious concerns over aspects of the ₦1.48 trillion 2025 budget, questioning the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retd), during a budget defence session at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

The state delegation appeared before the committee, led by House Majority Leader, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere, who stated that a review of the proposed budget revealed several questionable allocations requiring urgent clarification.

In a statement issued Monday night by House spokesman Akin Rotimi, the committee flagged key areas of concern, including:

• ₦24 billion allocated for CCTV installation at the Rivers State Government House
• ₦30 billion for the procurement of gunboats
• ₦23 billion listed as contingency funds with no clear justification

The committee also criticized the Rivers State Government for allegedly funding federal projects without formal agreements or any expected reimbursement, calling the practice financially irresponsible.

“These expenditures must be backed by clear justification and legal authority. We are duty-bound to uphold fiscal discipline,” Ihonvbere said.

As part of its resolution, the committee issued a 48-hour deadline to the Rivers State Government to provide:

• A detailed breakdown and justification for the flagged items
• A copy of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF)
• Full disclosure on the management of local government funds and the legal/administrative structures involved
• Proof of financial transfers to each of the 23 local government areas
• All documentation related to the Airforce Base Agreement mentioned during the budget defence

Ihonvbere emphasized the National Assembly’s oversight responsibility, noting, “Our goal is to ensure accountability and protect the interests of every citizen, even those far from the state capital. We all want Rivers to work again.”

Responding on behalf of the Sole Administrator, Special Adviser on Strategy and Policy, Andrew Nweke, said many of the controversial budget items were inherited from previous administrations and based on needs assessments.

He explained:

• The ₦30 billion for gunboats is intended to aid security agencies combating criminal activity on the state’s waterways
• The ₦23 billion contingency fund is meant for emergencies such as flooding and unforeseen crises
• The ₦24 billion CCTV project aims to upgrade surveillance systems and bolster security around the Governor’s office

The committee is expected to reconvene once the Rivers State Government complies with its demands.