Evening Recap: DSS bans civil arrests, Fubara signs N1.84tn budget, online mockery raises N14m for graduate, other top stories

Rivers State Governor Siminalayi Fubara has signed the state's 2026 Appropriation Bill into law. The bill, valued at N1.84 trillion, was passed by the Rivers State House of Assembly and signed by Fubara on Thursday at the Government House in Port Harcourt. According to Punch Nigeria, Fubara described the appropriation as a "breath of fresh air" and expressed optimism that it would usher in a new phase of development and cooperation between the executive and legislative arms of government.

The budget, titled "Budget of Resilience for Growth and Development," was initially proposed at N1.854 trillion, representing a 24.5 per cent increase over the revised 2025 budget, as per Punch Nigeria. Fubara commended the members of the Rivers State House of Assembly for their diligence and speed in handling the budget. He also assured the people of Rivers State that his administration would continue to prioritise their welfare and implement programmes and projects aimed at improving their living conditions, as reported by Daily Post Nigeria.

In other news, the Department of State Services (DSS) has banned civil arrests. Additionally, a graduate has received N14 million in donations following online mockery. These stories and others were highlighted as top Nigerian news.

Brief written by urgent.news from Punch, Daily Trust, Punch Nigeria, Daily Post Nigeria — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.