President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (retd) as Administrator for Rivers State, following the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, Mrs. Ngozi Odu, and all elected members of the state’s House of Assembly.
The president made this appointment during a nationwide broadcast on Tuesday amid the political and insecurity crisis in Rivers State.
In his declaration, Tinubu assured that the judicial arm of Rivers State would remain unaffected by the suspension and continue to carry out its constitutional duties, noting that Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas will not make any new laws.
The president stated: “In the meantime, I hereby nominate Vice Admiral Ibokette Ibas (Rtd) as Administrator to take charge of the affairs of the state in the interest of the good people of Rivers State. For the avoidance of doubt, this declaration does not affect the judicial arm of Rivers State, which shall continue to function in accordance with their constitutional mandate.
“The Administrator will not make any new laws. He will, however, be free to formulate regulations as may be found necessary to do his job, but such regulations will need to be considered and approved by the Federal Executive Council and promulgated by the President for the state.
“This declaration has been published in the Federal Gazette, a copy of which has been forwarded to the National Assembly in accordance with the Constitution. It is my fervent hope that this inevitable intervention will help to restore peace and order in Rivers State by awakening all the contenders to the constitutional imperatives binding on all political players in Rivers State in particular and Nigeria as a whole.”
Who is Vice Admiral Ibokette?
Ibok-Ete Ekwe Ibas is a distinguished retired Nigerian Navy vice admiral, who served as the 22nd Chief of the Naval Staff (CNS) of the Nigerian Navy from 2015 to 2021.
Born on September 27, 1960, in Nko, Cross River State, Nigeria, Ibas began his educational journey at Nko Primary School, proceeding to Big Qua Primary School, Calabar, and later attending the prestigious Hope Waddell Training Institute Calabar.
Ibas’s illustrious military career spans over four decades, having enlisted in the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1979.
He was commissioned as a sub-lieutenant in 1983 and went on to attend various military courses both domestically and internationally.
Notably, he attended the Sub-Lieutenant Technical Course in India, Primary Pilot Training in Kaduna, and the Amphibious Warfare School in the United States.
Throughout his career, Ibas has held numerous prestigious appointments, including serving as the executive officer of NNS Siri, NNS Ekun, and NNS Ambe, as well as commanding officer of the Nigerian Navy Underwater Warfare School and the Forward Operating Base Ibaka.
He was also the naval provost marshal, principal staff officer to the CNS, and chief of logistics, among other roles.
Ibas’s academic achievements are equally impressive, holding a master’s degree in defence and strategic studies from Quaid-i-Azam University in Islamabad, Pakistan.
He is also an alumnus of the National Defence College, Islamabad, and the Harvard Kennedy School in the US.
In recognition of his exemplary service, Ibas has received numerous awards and honors, including the Silver Jubilee Medal, ECOMOG Medal, and the Nigerian National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR). He is also a fellow of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs and the Nigerian Institute of Management.
In his current role, Ibas was appointed as the Sole Administrator of Rivers State, Nigeria, on March 18, 2025, following the declaration of a state of emergency in the state.
