Nigerian lawmakers have approved President Bola Tinubu’s state of emergency measures in Rivers State, along with the suspension of the state’s opposition governor.
The emergency measures, announced on Tuesday, aim to curb pipeline vandalism and address political tensions within the opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) that could disrupt oil production in the Niger Delta region.
The decision follows a recent explosion that shut down the Trans Niger Pipeline, a key route for crude exports to the Bonny terminal.
Despite initial opposition from some lawmakers, both the Senate and House of Representatives endorsed the emergency declaration, which will remain in effect for six months.