The Traffic

Rivers Assembly Chamber Set for Reopening as Sept. 18 Deadline Approaches

The reconstruction of the Rivers State House of Assembly complex is in its final stretch, just weeks before the September 18 expiration of the six-month emergency rule in the state.

The chamber, a critical arm of the state’s democracy, was reduced to rubble in November 2023 after a mysterious fire tore through the building. Then-Governor Siminalayi Fubara declared the structure unsafe and ordered its demolition, a move that deepened Rivers’ political turmoil and sparked accusations that it was a ploy to cripple the legislature and stave off impeachment threats.

Before his suspension on March 18, Fubara approved ₦19.6 billion for the rebuilding of the Assembly complex. When Vice-Admiral Ibok Ete-Ibas (retd.) stepped in as sole administrator of the state, he made the project a top priority, describing the chamber as “the only missing democratic pillar in Rivers State.”

Ete-Ibas has since paid multiple visits to the site, at first urging the contractors to fast-track work and later openly expressing frustration at what he described as sluggish progress. But his persistence appears to have paid off.

A recent visit to the project site revealed a structure nearing completion. Workers were seen screeding and tiling the exterior, while most of the window fittings and interior installations were already in place.

For many Rivers residents, the completion of the chamber will symbolize more than just a new building—it will mark a return to democratic normalcy after months of political upheaval.

With the September 18 countdown ticking, all eyes are on the Rivers Assembly complex, which may soon reopen its doors as a restored symbol of legislative authority in the oil-rich state.

By Haruna Yakubu Haruna