Reps Query N24bn Rivers CCTV Budget, Issue 48-Hour Ultimatum to Sole Administrator

The House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers State has issued a 48-hour ultimatum to the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd), to submit a detailed breakdown of the N1.48 trillion 2025 proposed budget — including the controversial ₦24 billion earmarked for CCTV installation at the Government House.

The directive came during a budget defence session in Abuja, led by committee chairman and House Majority Leader, Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC, Edo). Ihonvbere raised strong concerns over various allocations in the budget, including:

₦24 billion for CCTV, ₦30 billion for gunboats, and ₦23 billion set aside as contingency reserves.

He questioned the financial rationale behind the figures and criticized the absence of the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF) — a statutory requirement in public budgeting. The lawmaker also queried the use of state funds for federal projects without any refund agreement, describing the move as a breach of due process.

Rep. Ihonvbere emphasized the committee’s commitment to accountability, insisting that the documents must be submitted within 48 hours. He praised President Bola Tinubu for restoring calm between the state’s executive and legislative arms, saying the intervention helped stabilize governance in Rivers.

Responding to the lawmakers, Vice Admiral Ibas — represented by his Senior Special Assistant, Andrew Nweke — explained that many of the controversial budget items were inherited from previous administrations.

Nweke defended the ₦30 billion allocation for gunboats, stating it was necessary for security support, and described the ₦23 billion contingency fund as essential for managing flooding and emergency situations.

On the CCTV installation, Nweke maintained that the Office of the Governor “is one of honour,” and as such, deserved modern surveillance infrastructure to improve security.

“The office of the Governor is that of honour,” Nweke said, “and there’s a growing need for modern surveillance systems in today’s governance environment.”

He assured the lawmakers that all requested documents would be submitted within the stipulated time frame.