The House of Representatives has given Rivers State’s new boss, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (retired), just 48 hours to explain some key parts of the proposed 2025 budget. They’re especially interested in a strange N24 billion set aside for installing CCTV cameras at the Government House.

This demand came from Rep. Julius Ihonvbere, who leads the committee checking the budget. He said this during a meeting in Abuja on Monday. Ihonvbere and his team looked at the N1.48 trillion budget plan and found some odd items they wanted to understand better.

He asked Ibas to send over a detailed report on how the money will be spent, including a legal document called the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF), which should have been prepared before the budget was presented.

In particular, Ihonvbere wanted clear details on:

• The N24 billion for CCTV cameras at the Government House
• The N30 billion for buying gunboats to boost security on the rivers
• The N23 billion set aside for emergencies, like floods or other natural issues

He also questioned why money meant for federal projects in Rivers is being spent without proper agreements with the federal government, especially when refunds are involved.

He added that the committee needs to see how Rivers State is making money from inside sources (called Internally Generated Revenue or IGR) over the last three months. This will help them understand if the government has enough money to pay for its plans. They also want details on how funds given to local governments are being managed.

Ihonvbere emphasised that all these documents must be sent within two days. He assured everyone that their goal is to make Rivers better and ensure transparency, so the money is used responsibly and for the people’s benefit, even those living far from the state capital.

He also praised President Bola Tinubu for helping to restore peace between Rivers State’s government and the legislature, which had been tense.

Representing Ibas, Andrew Nweke explained that many of these budget items were inherited from the previous administration. He said the budget reflects what the people of Rivers need and was drawn up after careful planning by officials.

Regarding the N30 billion for gunboats, Nweke said it’s meant to help security teams protect waterways, which are often troubled by crime. The N23 billion for emergencies will help deal with floods and other natural disasters the state faces.

As for the N24 billion for CCTV cameras at the Government House, Nweke explained that the CCTV is for security and modern technology to safeguard the governor’s office, which is very important.

He assured the committee that Rivers State will send all the additional documents they’ve asked for to help speed up the process.