President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Vice Admiral Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas (Rtd) as the new administrator to oversee the affairs of Rivers State
The appointment comes after the president declared a state of emergency in the state and suspended Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs Ngozi Odu, and all members of the State House of Assembly for six months.
Vice Admiral Ibas, a seasoned naval officer, was Nigeria’s 22nd Chief of Naval Staff. He served in that capacity until his retirement in 2021. Known for his impressive career in national security and maritime affairs, Ibas brings years of experience to the new role.
Born on September 27, 1960, in Nko, Cross River State, Ibas began his military journey when he joined the Nigerian Defence Academy as part of the 26 Regular Course in 1979. He was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in 1983.
The new Rivers administrator has a solid educational background. He attended Hope Waddell Training Institute, Calabar, and later studied at Quaid-i-Azam University in Pakistan, where he bagged a master’s degree in Defence and Strategic Studies.
Vice Admiral Ibas has undergone several military courses both within and outside Nigeria. His training includes the Amphibious Warfare Course at the US Marine Corps University, Quantico, Virginia, and the National Defence Course in Pakistan.
During his illustrious military career, he held several key positions, including commanding officer of the Nigerian Navy Underwater Warfare School, Commander of the Naval Air Base in Lagos, and Deputy Commandant at the Armed Forces Command and Staff College, Jaji.
He also served as the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command and later became the Chief of Administration at the Naval Headquarters.
In 2015, he was appointed Chief of Naval Staff, a position he held until 2021 before retiring.
With this new appointment, Vice Admiral Ibas is expected to restore peace and order in Rivers State and ensure that governance continues smoothly during the emergency period.
His experience in handling security matters and leadership is expected to help stabilise the state as the political crisis continues.