Rivers State Administrator cancels all 2025 Procurement Processes, orders refunds

The Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (rtd.), has annulled all procurement and tender processes initiated under the suspended administration of Sir Siminialayi Fubara.

In a directive issued on Thursday by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. Ibibia Worika, all Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) involved in procurement activities in 2025 have been instructed to refund any fees collected from contractors.

The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling upholding the Appeal Court’s judgment in Suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024, which declared the absence of a valid Appropriation Law for the fiscal year.

The statement read: “In adherence to the Supreme Court judgment upholding the Appeal Court ruling in Suit No. CA/ABJ/CV/133/2024, and in the absence of an Appropriation Law, the Sole Administrator, Vice Admiral (rtd.) Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas, CFR, wishes to notify the general public that all procurement and tender processes carried out by Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) during the period are hereby cancelled.

“Accordingly, all MDAs that carried out such tender processes for projects in their respective offices are, by this special announcement, mandated to refund such tender fees to the respective contractors IMMEDIATELY. This will remain in effect pending the approval of a spending plan by the state, which shall be communicated in due course.”