CRISIS COMMUNICATION IN GOVERNANCE: PUBLIC PERCEPTIONS OF TINUBU’S STATE OF EMERGENCY IN RIVERS STATE

Abstract

This study examined government public relations and crisis Government management: Evaluating public perceptions of Tinubu's state of emergency Public declaration in Rivers State, Nigeria. The situation crisis communication theory Relations, (SCCT) was anchored in this study. This study adopted a qualitative research Crisis method using email interviews to explore public perceptions of President Tinubu’s Management, state of emergency declaration in Rivers State. The population of the study Public comprised 150 communication experts, political analysts, government officials, Perceptions, journalists, and selected members of the public in Rivers State who have engaged Tinubu's with or been affected by the declaration. A sample size of 15 respondents was State of selected to ensure an in-depth understanding of diverse perspectives. The sampling Emergency technique employed was purposive sampling and data collection was conducted Declaration, through structured open-ended questions sent via email, enabling respondents to Rivers State, provide detailed insights at their convenience. The responses were analysed using Nigeria. thematic analysis, where recurring themes and patterns in the narratives are  identified and interpreted to understand the dominant perceptions, concerns, and implications of the government’s crisis communication strategies. The study found that the Nigerian government employed multiple public relations strategies in managing the crisis, including official press statements, televised addresses, and social media engagement. However, the communication approach was predominantly reactive rather than proactive, with government messaging intensifying only after public outcry. The government framed the state of emergency as a security-driven intervention, but a lack of prior stakeholder engagement weakened public confidence. The study concluded that the study highlights that the Nigerian government’s crisis communication approach during the state of emergency in Rivers State was largely reactive, limiting its effectiveness in gaining public support and managing misinformation. A more proactive, transparent, and inclusive communication strategy is essential for fostering public trust and ensuring that crisis interventions are perceived as legitimate and necessary. The study recommended that the government should adopt a proactive crisis communication strategy that emphasizes transparency, timely information dissemination, and stakeholder engagement