The United Kingdom has issued a travel advisory cautioning its citizens against all but essential travel to Rivers State and nearby riverine areas following the declaration of a State of Emergency by President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday.
The Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) emphasized that Rivers State is now considered a restricted area for non-essential travel, noting that the elected governor has been temporarily replaced by a military administration.
“On 18 March, a six-month State of Emergency was declared in Rivers State, South-South Nigeria,” the advisory stated.
“The FCDO already advises against all but essential travel to Rivers State, and against all travel to riverine areas of the State.”
The decision followed President Tinubu’s suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara and the state legislature for six months, a move linked to the ongoing political dispute between the governor and his predecessor, Nyesom Wike, who now serves as the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory.
Following the proclamation, Governor Fubara and his family were reportedly held at the Government House in Port Harcourt by military personnel before being allowed to leave on Wednesday morning.
The military presence in the state has since intensified, with armed soldiers, under the command of former Chief of Naval Staff Ibot-Ete Ekwe, deployed for the next six months.
The heavy military presence has sparked reactions from residents, including Nollywood actresses Hilda Dokubo and Ibinabo Fiberesima, who have publicly expressed their support for Fubara while voicing concerns over the situation in the state.