I met over N600bn in Rivers coffers after emergency rule — Fubara

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has said he found more than N600 billion in the state’s coffers when emergency rule was lifted earlier this year, insisting that his administration remains committed to transparent and responsible management of public funds.

The governor spoke on Wednesday during the commissioning of the 14.2-kilometre Obodhi–Ozochi Road, which links Ahoada East and Ahoada West Local Government Areas.

Fubara said he left about N300 million in government accounts before the Federal Government imposed emergency rule in the state, and that available records confirm that when his administration resumed after the intervention, it encountered a significantly larger balance.

“Today, I want to also say to the whole world. When we left during the emergency rule, our records were there. We left over N300 million. When we came back, we met about N600 billion and something,” he said, stressing that financial records and expenditure documentation are intact and open to verification. The governor added that his administration has several significant projects underway as visible evidence of responsible governance.

Fubara’s remarks come amid criticism from the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, who has questioned the state of public infrastructure and raised concerns about how the funds were being utilised.

Amaewhule has pointed to conditions in public schools, including a lack of basic facilities at Township State School 1 along Moscow Road in Port Harcourt, and asked what the government is doing with the substantial funds left in the state’s account after emergency rule.

Responding indirectly to those concerns at the road commissioning event, Fubara said all state funds are being deployed responsibly and that expenditure records are open and verifiable. “If there is one thing I can say and do that I’m even proud of, nobody can associate me with anything bad. So your money and the records of how your money is being spent are intact. We have very strong projects that we are doing,” he said. He also assured residents that within six months his government would present clear and verifiable details of how public funds have been used.