Reps approve ₦1.48tr Rivers budget, cut controversial security spending

Summary

• House of Representatives passes ₦1.48 trillion 2025 budget for Rivers State
• ₦35 billion cut from proposed CCTV, gunboat and surveillance allocations
• Over ₦30 billion redirected to infrastructure, education, and healthcare
• Budget breakdown includes ₦1.06 trillion for capital expenditure

Abuja, Nigeria — The House of Representatives on Tuesday approved the ₦1.48 trillion 2025 Appropriation Bill for Rivers State, following the adoption of a report by its Ad-hoc Committee on Rivers, chaired by Majority Leader Julius Ihonvbere.

During plenary presided over by Deputy Speaker Benjamin Kalu, the House slashed ₦35 billion from security-related allocations initially earmarked for closed-circuit television (CCTV) at the Government House, gunboats, and surveillance contracts. The committee had raised concerns about the sums, ₦24 billion for CCTV and ₦30 billion for gunboats, during budget defence sessions.

Ihonvbere disclosed that more than ₦30 billion from the contentious security votes was reallocated to priority areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education, and agriculture, to ensure prudent resource utilisation.

According to the committee’s report, the budget includes ₦256.42 billion for personnel costs, ₦162.58 billion for overheads, and ₦1.06 trillion for capital projects, to be implemented before the end of 2025.

President Bola Tinubu had sent the appropriation bill to the National Assembly in May, seeking urgent legislative approval to stabilise governance and promote development in Rivers State.