President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd) as the sole administrator of Rivers State following the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
This decision also led to the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and 27 lawmakers for an initial period of six months.
Announcing the appointment on March 18, President Tinubu stated, “In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State.”
He clarified that the state’s judicial arm would continue to function as per its constitutional mandate.
Who is Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas?
Born on September 27, 1960, in Nko, Cross River State, Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas is a retired Navy Vice Admiral and the 22nd Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Nigerian Navy, serving from 2015 to 2021.
His military career began at the Nigerian Defence Academy as part of the 26 Regular Course on June 20, 1979, and he was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant on January 1, 1983.
Ibas’s extensive military education includes the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course in India, Primary Pilot Training at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna, the Junior and Senior Staff Courses at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College in Jaji, Kaduna, and a diploma in amphibious warfare from the U.S. Marine Corps University.
He also holds a master’s degree in defense and strategic studies from Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan.
Military Service and Leadership Roles
Throughout his service, Ibas held significant positions, including:
Commanding Officer of the Nigerian Navy Underwater Warfare School and Forward Operating Base Ibaka; Naval Provost Marshal; Principal Staff Officer to the Chief of Naval Staff; Commander of the Naval Air Base, Ojo; Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command; Chief of Logistics at Naval Headquarters; Managing Director/CEO of Nigerian Navy Holdings Limited;
In 2015, he was appointed as the Chief of Naval Staff, a role he held until his retirement in 2021.
In recognition of his service, he was conferred the Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) by President Muhammadu Buhari in 2022.
Ibas is also a member of several professional organizations, including the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
He has attended various international seminars, including capacity development courses at the Harvard Kennedy School in the U.S.
A New Chapter in Rivers State
As he steps into his role as the sole administrator of Rivers State, Ibas is tasked with overseeing the state’s administration during this period of emergency.
His appointment is seen as a measure to restore stability and ensure governance amid the political crisis in the state.
