• Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State, suspends Governor Fubara and deputy
• Fubara releases press statement over suspension as governor
• PDP rejects Tinubu’s state of emergency on Rivers State, calls it unconstitutional
• Senate passes bill requiring all social media platforms and bloggers to have offices in Nigeria
• FG confirms highest tuberculosis cases in  Nigeria as it hits 400,00 in 2024

Across Nigeria’s 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, these are the five top Nigerian news stories you shouldn’t miss.

Tinubu declares state of emergency in Rivers State, suspends Governor Fubara and deputy

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu declared a state of emergency in Rivers State due to the political struggle that has taken place over the past months since Fubara began his term as governor of the state.

To stifle the situation, President Tinubu announced that Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his Deputy Governor, Mrs Ngozi Odu and all elected members of the House of the Assembly of Rivers State have been suspended for six months.

While the state remains without a governor for the duration of the suspension, Tinubu proposed that Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator will take charge of the affairs of the state. The Administrator is not to make any new rules and all decisions must be submitted to the judicial arm before he enforces them.

Fubara releases press statement over suspension as governor

Since being suspended by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Governor Siminalayi Fubara has released a statement to assure his people that there will be a light at the end of the tunnel.

In his statement, he listed his achievements so far as governor, admitting that though there have been political disagreements between certain government officials, the state has remained safe and his people should remain calm and respect the law.

“At this critical time, I urge all Rivers people to remain peaceful and law-abiding. We will engage with all relevant institutions to ensure that our democracy remains strong and that Rivers State continues to thrive,” he said.

PDP rejects Tinubu’s state of emergency on Rivers State, calls it unconstitutional

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has strongly opposed President Bola Tinubu’s declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State, stating that he lacks the authority to suspend Governor Siminalayi Fubara.

Tinubu announced the state of emergency on Tuesday night in response to the prolonged political crisis in the South-South state.

In a statement, PDP spokesperson Debo Ologunagba condemned the move, calling it “unconstitutional” and an attempt to undermine democracy in Rivers.

“The PDP outrightly rejects this attempt by the President to override the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and undermine the votes and will of the people of Rivers State by seeking to depose a democratic government and foist an undemocratic rule in the state,” the statement read.

Senate passes bill requiring all social media platforms and bloggers to have offices in Nigeria

The Senate has passed a bill requiring international social media platforms to set up physical offices within Nigeria.

Sponsored by Ned Nwoko, the senator representing Delta North, the proposed legislation has passed its second reading. It aims to regulate bloggers by mandating them to establish verifiable offices in any state capital.

The bill also seeks to amend the Nigeria Data Protection Act 2023 to ensure compliance among social media companies operating within the country.

FG confirms highest tuberculosis cases in  Nigeria as it hits 400,00 in 2024

The Federal Ministry of Health reports that Nigeria recorded over 400,000 tuberculosis cases in 2024.

At a pre-World Tuberculosis (TB) Day briefing in Abuja, Public Health Director Godwin Ntadom highlighted progress in TB treatment, with coverage reaching 79%.

World TB Day, observed on March 24, raises awareness about the disease. This year’s theme is ‘Yes! We Can End TB. Commit. Invest. Deliver’.

“In 2024, Nigeria recorded its highest-ever TB notification, identifying over 400,000 cases out of an estimated 506,000. This 79% treatment coverage is commendable,” Ntadom stated.