The House of Representatives Ad hoc Committee investigating the political crisis in Rivers State has demanded a detailed breakdown of a N24 billion allocation for CCTV installation at the Government House, Port Harcourt.
The committee issued the directive during a 2025 budget defence session held Monday in Abuja.
Rep. Julius Ihonvbere (APC-Edo), who chairs the committee and also serves as House Majority Leader, raised serious concerns over what he described as “questionable provisions” in the N1.48 trillion Appropriation Bill submitted by the state’s Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd).
“We’ve reviewed the budget proposal, and there are serious concerns,” Ihonvbere said.
Among the contentious items highlighted were:
- N24 billion for CCTV installation,
- N30 billion for the purchase of gunboats, and
- N23 billion allocated as contingency reserves.
Ihonvbere also demanded the immediate submission of the state’s Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), a statutory requirement that precedes the presentation of any budget proposal.
“We need to compare your financial inflow with the projected deficit. In addition, we expect details on transfers to local governments, especially how those funds are currently managed,” he added.
He further criticized the budget’s inclusion of allocations to federal projects without concrete reimbursement plans and stressed the need for transparency regarding the state’s Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) over the past three months.
“All the documents we requested must reach us within 48 hours. Be assured, our goal is to make Rivers work again. We want accountability, and we must protect the interests of the people, no matter how remote their communities are,” Ihonvbere emphasized.
He also took a moment to commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his role in addressing the political impasse between the Rivers State Executive and Legislature.
Responding on behalf of the Rivers State Government, Mr. Andrew Nweke, the Senior Special Assistant on Strategy and Policy to the Sole Administrator, explained that the current budget framework was largely inherited.
“The proposal was based on a needs assessment conducted by implementing agencies and was designed to reflect the priorities of the Rivers people,” Nweke said.
Defending the CCTV budget, he stated: “The Office of the Governor is one of honour and strategic importance. It deserves modern surveillance and security technology.”
He further clarified that the N30 billion earmarked for gunboats was aimed at bolstering security operations in the state’s waterways, while the N23 billion contingency fund was intended to address emergencies such as flooding.
Nweke assured the lawmakers that all the required documents would be submitted promptly to assist the legislative review process.
